Festival of San Sebastian
This Saint is celebrated for the protection that he gives against the Plague. Saint Sebastian was a captain of the Diocletian group that declared itself Christian and was condemned to death for it. It seems that the relic arrived in Palma by sea in the year 1523. Although its Saint’s day falls on the 20th, the programme of activities covers practically all of the month of January, linking in with the Revetlla of Sant Antoni on the 16th. On the night of the 16th, bonfires are lit and torrades (barbeques) are set up whilst the demons dance in the streets. Torrades are also set up on the night before the Saint’s festival, when many plazas in the city are turned into venues for groups that play live surrounded by a crowd that dances and listens animatedly. Traditionally each place hosts a different style of music, be it rock, flamenco, jazz or traditional music.

Les Valentes Dones
In the 16th century, the Mallorcan coast lived one of the worst moments in its history. In Sóller, at the foot of a valley in the majestic sierra of Tramuntana, the invasions of pirates were constant and people lived in constant fear of a new plundering. According to the legend, on the 11th of May 1561 they arrived off the coast and entered the house of the sisters Catalina and Francisca Casasnoves. Instead of being frightened, they took the bar used for securing the door and were able to kill the corsairs with it, contributing to the village’s victory. This bar is still conserved and plays a part in the commemoration of the event; it is shown off during the processions and before the programmed events, although the true starts of the programme are the Valentes dones, who are represented each year when two young people from Sóller are chosen by the “Association of Moors and Clowns”.

Festival of Sant Antoni Abat
The festival starts on the evening before the Saint’s day, with the so called Revetla of Saint Anthony. In the evening, large bonfires are lit in the main streets and plazas of the villages, whilst the people dance around them. The fire, the true centre of the celebration, symbolises purification and renovation of life in this festival, the triumph of good over bad. Furthermore, torrades (barbeques) are held on this evening and everyone shares llonganisses, botifarrons, sobrassada and other traditional products such as the typical espinagada of these villages. During the whole night, magical for many, the music of the xeremiers is played tirelessly and one of the major attractions takes place: the traditional Dance of the Demons, which symbolises the temptations by the Devil that glorious Saint Anthony had to frequently overcome. The following day, the Day of Saint Anthony, the festivities become more serious. After holy mass in honour of the Saint, the Beneïdes of the animals that belong to the villagers takes place. From canaries, goldfinches, dogs, cats and chickens to donkeys and horses, all the village’s domesticated animals wait anxiously outside the church so that Saint Anthony can watch over them.

Nostre Senyora de la Victòria
This commemorates the invasion of the island on the 11th of May, 1561 by Turkish pirates and different recreations of the battle between Moors and Christians are carried out in Sòller, Port de Sòller and Palma.

Festa de l´Angel
It is known as the Festival of the Angle because it has links to the festivities of Saint Custodio of Palma, which began in that city in 1407 and was the most solemn festival during the 15th and 16th centuries. As well as a splendid procession and the staging of a short play, bread for the needy is then blessed. This is where the name of pancaritat, as the festival is commonly known, comes from. Since far off times, the pancaritats have also been celebrated in shrines and hermitages all over Mallorca during the week after Easter, where it is traditional to go by foot to share the last pasties, which are prepared on these days. For many years the Festival of the Angle was interrupted, until it was recovered by the Palma Federation of Neighbour Associations, which changed it into one of the most emblematic festivals in the city. Every year, thousands of people head for the Castle of Bellver to participate in this pilgrimage during which several magnificent events take place over the course of the day.

Revetla de Sant Joan
Several cities and towns in the Balearic Islands celebrate the Nit de Sant Joan: including Palma, Calvià, Deià, Muro, Felanitx, Son Servera and Sant Joan, in Mallorca as well as Formentera, Ibiza capital, Santa Eulàlia des Riu and Sant Joan de Labritja. Bonfires are organised on the night of the 23rd of June and there is plenty of music and dancing which fills the crowd with jubilation. The magical hour is midnight, the moment to join in with the ritual of purification by fire. According to this tradition, something old, or a paper on which is written everything that we would like to change, has to be thrown into the bonfire. Whilst these objects are being consumed by the flames, the owners jump three times in a row. On the 24th of June, the festivities of Saint John the Baptist are celebrated. He was born in Judea and was the nephew of Mary the mother of Jesus and died by decapitation in the year 27 by request of Salome, daughter of Herod. The fact that this date coincides with the summer solstice, with the longest day and the shortest night, has contributed to the magic that since times immemorial has charmed this festival.

Christmas Festivals
On the 24th of December, la Nit de Nadal, the midday mass takes pride of place during the day with the apocalyptic Cant de la Sibil•la, documented since the 10th century in Catalonia and bought to the islands after the conquest in 1229 by Jaime I. This tradition has been maintained in almost all of Mallorca ever since and has been recovered in some churches on other islands. In contrast to other areas, dinner isn’t so important and after the mass hot chocolate is normally served with some sweet and savoury snacks.

Festa des Vermar
In September, the month of the wine harvest, Binissalem celebrates its largest festival. For nine days the Festa des Vermar turns this wine-growing village into a frenzy of activities and fine wine. In terms of the features of the festival it is one of the oldest in Spain. Not in vain, as it is one of the three most important wine growing areas on the island, located in the foothills of the sierra of Tramuntana. The municipality lends its name to the official wine region of D.O Binissalem – Mallorca, which also takes up part of the neighbouring regions. The festival lasts for nine days and revolves around the product that has made this area famous: its wines, which were praised in the 19th century by the writer Jules Verne. The festival begins with the wine-maker reception in the village hall, with music by xeremiers (traditional musicians). There is a very extensive programme of activities and the village fills with colour, joy and a lot of visitors. Glosador and chess tournaments, processions, night festivals, floats, a wine tasting course and an international painting contest are some of the offerings.