Novedades
Fiestas en Sóller
Reis Mags (Three Kings), January 5th-6th: A procession of the three kings celebrating the Epiphany. Sweets are thrown to children from the floats, and the procession culminates at the local church in which presents are handed out to the children. This is as important a fiesta as Christmas.
Sant Antoni, January 17th: Each town and village on the island celebrates this day with a night of bonfires and barbeques on which Mallorquin sausages are cooked on the red-hot coals and pa amb oli (a traditional Mallorquin dish of bread, salt and oil with tomato rubbed on top) is handed out with local wine flowing from the barrels, all free of charge! Eerie, traditional, medieval Mallorquin songs are sung about Sant Antoni and the devil, accompanied by a friction drum, the ximbomba. During the day, Sóller hosts a public blessing of animals in the main square, and an exciting display of horse-riding skills is quite something to see.
Sant Sebastiá, January 19th: Festival of the patron saint of the capital Palma, during which more bonfires and barbeques take place in the squares around town and in the neighbouring villages.
Semana Santa, Easter weekend: The biggest procession takes place on Maundy Thursday, a solemn affair of barefooted adults and children dressed in the brotherhood costume with pointy hats, a symbol of penitence, often dragging chains round their ankles and carrying heavy floats and crucifixes. The local wind band processes too, playing hauntingly beautiful music to which the crowds listen in silence.
Sa Fira and Es Firó, 2nd weekend in May: A major festival celebrating the victory of Sóller’s Christians over Moorish invaders on May 11th, 1561. Men and women dress in either traditional Mallorquin dress (representing the Christians) or Arabic dress with blackened faces (representing the Moorish invaders). Sa Fira is held on the Sunday in which local craftsmen and women display crafts unique to the Sóller valley, and a livestock fair exhibits a variety of animal breeds distinctive to the Balearics.
Es Firó takes place on the Monday and is not for the faint-hearted. However, it is an incredibly memorable fiesta to experience. It is a re-enactment of the invasion, beginning with the landing of the Moors in the Sóller port on various boats, which involves a lot of dunking in the sea, guns firing into the air and various kinds of explosions. The chaotic procession then continues from the port to the town during which a lot of drinking of the local herb liquor takes place, more firing into the air and blunderbusses exploding every which way producing a lingering cloud of smoke which hangs over every street in town. In the meantime, the Arabs try to conquer the Christians by smearing black onto their faces and clothes (don’t wear white), and beware that visitors are not excluded from this battle! It all culminates in a somewhat graphic scene in the main square (right below Academia Sóller!) of hangings from the plane trees, the bashing down of the church doors with a huge wooden beam, the capture of the priest in a wooden cart, fireworks and robbers scaling the buildings. This is a fiesta not to be missed!
Sant Joan, June 24th: A fiesta of bonfires welcoming in the summer. Celebrations in nearby Deiá are a week long and take place in the outside amphitheatre. There is an event every night, including an al fresco dinner followed by a DJ and dancing, and nightly musical bands featuring different themes such as ballroom dancing, Mallorquin music and reggae to name a few.
Sant Pere, June 29th: The day of the patron saint of fishermen is celebrated in the fisherman´s quarter in the port of Sóller, in which sporting and cultural events take place.
Festes de l’ Horta, July: The Virgin of la Victória is commemorated with a variety of events in the Sóller district of Horta.
Pa Virgen del Carmen, July 16th: Processions of boats in the Port of Sóller
Festes de Biniaraix, August 11 – 15th: More cultural events celebrating the ´Mother of God of August’ in the nearby village of Biniaraix.
Sant Bartomeu, August 24th: The eve of which is also known as the Nit de Foc (Night of Fire), Sóller´s patron saint, Sant Bartomeu, is celebrated through exhibitions, concerts, sporting events and a fire show at night called the ‘correfoc’ or ‘fire run’ which is spectacular and at times slightly dangerous as fire is thrown around in apparent disorder (you’re advised to cover your head with a damp scarf). Men dress up as the devil and perform ‘devil-dances’ which adds another yet another fearsome element to the celebrations. This fiesta retains a strong local character due to the small number of visitors who attend for some reason!
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