The rebirth of spring

Easter marks the beginning of spring. The Holy Week is celebrated with great tradition and devotion in Mallorca. Throughout the week processions with floats and penitents take place in many towns of the island. The most important procession is held in Palma on Maundy Thursday. The statue of “Sant Crist de la Sang” (Christ of the blood) is the main figure of the procession. It is also the oldest religious brotherhood in Mallorca. The float was first paraded on Maundy Thursday of 1552.

The “Davallament”, which is a reenactment of the descent of Christ from the cross by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea, is held on Good Friday. It is very emotive and dramatic. The event is traditionally celebrated in the Chapel of Sant Salvador in Artà, the Chapel of el Calvari in Pollença, the Parish Church of Sant Miquel in Felanitx and in front of Palma’s Cathedral. The exterior of the Cathedral is the stage for the performance of “Vía Crucis” (the way of the cross), a poem by the Mallorcan intelectual Llorenç Moya (1916-1981).

The “Pancaritats” are a deep-rooted tradition on the island. They are pilgrimages dating back to 1407 and are held the week after Easter. People usually walk up to the chapels to share their last Easter lamb pies and "rubiols”, a sweet pastry filled with angel’s hair or jam.

“Diumenge de l’Àngel” (Angel Sunday) marks the end of the “Pancaritats” in towns like Llucmajor, Porreres, Alaró, Alcúdia and Palma, where the most important event takes place in an open area near Bellver Castle. It brings together more than 25,000 people each year. They share a festive atmosphere and the programme includes giants and big-heads, “ball de bot” (traditional Mallorcan dance), “xeremiers” (Mallorcan bagpipers) and stalls with handicraft products.

April is a month filled with other important events such as the Pollença Wine Fair, with the participation of a large number of wineries from the Balearics; The Festival of Sant Marc in Sineu, where it is customary to eat snails; the fairs of Calvià, Andratx, Estellencs and Santa Eugènia, which organises a local poultry competition.