Mallorca Preview 2012: Events and Holidays in the Balearics

The popular island in the Mediterranean, stands out not only by attractive real estate but also the island offers visitors and residents a wide range of cultural events

Mallorca National Public Holidays

 

    1st January - Año Nuevo / New Year's Day

    5th January - Epifanía / Epiphany

    19th March - Dia de San José / St. Joseph's Day

    Late March or early April - Jueves Santo / Maundy Thursday

    Late March or early April - Viernes Santo / Good Friday

    1st May - Fiesta del Trabajo / Labour Day

    15th August - La Asunción / Feast of the Assumption

    12th October - Nacional de España / National Day

    1st November - Todos los Santos / All Saints' Day

    6th December - Dia de la Constitución / Constitution Day

    8th December - La Inmaculada Concepción / Feast of the Immaculate Conception

    25th December - Navidad / Christmas Day

 

 

Mallorca Special Events 2011 / 2012

A variety of occasions are detailed for a taste of what Mallorca and nearby islands have to offer. However, the already busy social calendar of Mallorca is continually being added to.

 

January

    Revelta i Beneides de Sant Antoni Abat - January 16th and 17th, this fiesta in Mallorca includes bonfires, parades, dancing, feasting and many people dress up in costumes

    Processo dels Tres Tocs - January 17th, in Ciutadella, Menorca, this procession celebrates the victory of Alfonso III over the Muslims in 1287

    Festa de Sant Sebastia - January 20th, in Pollenca, Mallorca, a procession with two dancers, known as cavallets, mounting wooden horses

 

February

    Carnival Parades - February and March, many fancy dress balls marks the end of the Carnival before Lent. Palma hosts the most spectacular fiesta, known as the Cavalcade (Sa Rua)

 

March

    Semana Santa - held on Maundy Thursday in Palma, Mallorca, a procession leaves the church of La Sang, carrying a crucifix. On Good Friday, many other processions are held in towns, including Palma and Sinue in Mallorca and Mao in Menorca

 

April

    Festa Sant Francesc - April 2nd, a popular feast of St. Francis is celebrated throughout the islands

    Festa Sant Jordi - April 23rd, this feast day of the patron saint of many towns and villages is celebrated on all the islands

    Princess Sofia Trophy - in Palma, Mallorca, this yachting regatta is one of the most important in the Balearic islands

 

May

    Festa de Maig - first Sunday in May in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza, this spring flower festival is one of the most colourful fiestas in the Balearic islands

    Festa de Nostra Sanyora de la Victoria - second Sunday in May, held in Soller and Port de Soller, Mallorca, these mock battles are staged to mark the raid by the Turkish pirates in 1561

    Eivissa Medieval - second Sunday in May, held in Eivissa, Ibiza, this new festival includes concerts and dancing, celebrating the declaration of Dalt Villa as a World Heritage site in 1992

 

June

    Corpus Christi - held in Pollenca, Mallorca, this popular festival includes the 'Dance of the Eagles' and is performed in the main town square

    Sant Antoni de Juny - June 13th, held in Arta, Mallorca, this feast also includes parades of locals dressed up as horses

    Sant Joan - June 24th, held in Ciutadella, Menorca, horses are a major part of the event, which is King Juan Carlos's name day

    Romeria de Sant Marcal - June 30th, in Sa Cabeneta, Mallorca, this is a popular fair which is also held in other towns

July

    Dia de Virgen de Carmen - July 15th to 16th, held all over the Balearic islands, the feast of the patron saint of sailors includes parades and the blessing of fishing boats

    Passejada dies Bou i Carro Triunfal - July 27th to 28th, held in Valldemossa, Mallorca, this celebration includes a feast and a bull and a procession of carts

 

August

    Copa del Rey - first week in August, held in Palma, Mallorca, this large and very popular international yachting regatta is held under the patronage of King Juan Carlos

    Sant Ciriac - August 8th, held in Ibiza, the feast commemorates the Spanish recapture of these islands

    Festa de Sant Lorenc - second week in August, held in Alaior, Menorca, with riding displays in the streets

    Assumption of the Virgin - August 15th, this is a major festival that is held throughout Spain

    Sant Agustin - August 28th, held in Felantix, Mallorca, this fiesta includes horse-riding shows and dancing

 

September

    Processio de la Beata - first Sunday in September, held in Santa Margalida, Mallorca, this process of floats and people dressed in folk costume honouring Sant Catalina

    Diada de Catalunya - September 11th, this is a national holiday throughout the islands

    Festa des Vermar - last Sunday in September, held in Binissalem, Mallorca, this grape-harvest festival includes floats and also concerts

    Festa del Melo - last Sunday in September, held in Vilafranca de Bonany, Mallorca, this watermelon festival celebrates the end of the harvest

 

October

    Dia de la Hispanidad - October 12th, a national Spanish holiday, held to commemorate the discovery of the New World by Christopher Colombus in 1492

    Festa de Virgin - October 21st, held in Palma, Mallorca, this festival includes large amounts of cakes, singing and general festivities

    Festa dies Butifarro - third Sunday in October, held in Sant Joan, Mallorca, this festival includes eating large amounts of tasty sausages

 

November

    Sant Carles - November 4th, held in Ibiza, this is the patron saint's day and is celebrated throughout Ibiza

    Dijous Bo - third Thursday in November, held in Inca, Mallorca, this is an important agricultural feast, including fairs

    Birthday of Junipero Serra - November 24th, the birthday of this Franciscan monk is celebrated throughout the region

December

    Noche Buena - December 24th, Christmas Eve celebrations, including nativity plays and midnight mass, throughout the islands

    Santos Inocentes - December 28th, a Spanish equivalent of April Fool's day

    Festa de l'Estandard - December 31st, held in Palma, Mallorca, this feast commemorates the town's conquest in 1229