La Semana Santa - This way Mallorca celebrates the Easter Holidays

If you spend the Easter holidays in Mallorca, you will be surprised by an island that shows a completely different face than in the high season during the summer. Easter is considered to be the most important religious festival of the year on the predominantly Catholic Balearic Islands - the festivities are correspondingly elaborate. At Easter, especially in the Holy Week, the 'Semana Santa', we commemorate in Mallorca the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Enjoying the sunshine, a bright blue sky and mostly spring-like temperatures, you can experience the fascinating customs and traditions of the Balearic Islands during Holy Week. The Easter time is probably one of the most beautiful opportunities to really get to know Mallorca, the island is in celebration, the blue sky lures and who is not at a procession, can enjoy the great weather on a luxury yacht relaxed, hiking, surfing, sailing, fishing, Kitesurfing, windsurfing, cycling, endless walks, shopping, or enjoy the delicious Easter food with all its sweet delicacies.
 

Historic Easter customs from the 16th century

On Palm Sunday, the Easter ceremonies begin in Palma in the cathedral la Seu with the processional mass. Treat yourself to a visit to the fair, even if you have to stand in line, because the royal couple will also appear here. Palm and olive branches are blessed with blessed water and worshipers, priests and many spectators head for the Bishop of Palma, adorned with the green branches through the streets of the old town. Trumpets lament, drums set the slow pace, there is absolute silence among the visitors.

Wrapped in frocks, with pointed hoods on their heads with observation slits, the penitents appear in two trellises in lockstep. Once shame and humility were involved in the game, this special hoods today serve as a distinctive mark of the brotherhoods. The hood is a symbol of the anonymity of the penitents, because the confession of their own sins in the Roman Catholic faith always remain hidden in private. The children are given sugar coated almonds by the mummed ... Every day between Palm Sunday and Good Friday, it goes on like that, for hours.

 

The Highlights the Semana Santa in Mallorca

During the Holy Week, there will be a great deal of making amends, in almost all the towns and cities in Majorca, processions and spectacles will take place at Easter, representing the Passion Cristi in a unique way. Highlights include the big parades on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, which last several hours and usually end after midnight.



 

Maundy Thursday: Processiò de la Sang – Blood procession in Palma de Mallorca

During Maundy Thursday, the island's capital Palma, will become the center of social life on the Balearic Islands. The traditional blood procession takes place at Easter since the 16th century in the streets of the old town, with masked figures in red robes and white hoods leading the procession. They carry long burning candles, the wax dripping incessantly on the pavement. They are followed by the penitents, who are dragging oversized altars with saints through the streets and carry the giant wooden crosses called Nazarenos on their shoulders. The spectacle is accompanied by chain rattling, dull drumbeats and the cracking of leather whips until late into the night.

 

Good Friday: Devallament – Deposition from the cross in Pollença

Easter is also very intense in Pollença. Here one of the most moving events of the Holy Week takes place: about 7.000 people come from all over the island to see the staging of the descent from the cross, the festival is called 'Davallament', the Mallorcan depiction of the Passion story. Here the suffering Christ on the cross and the descent from the cross is presented in a sensitive way and the Christ figure is then carried down by the brotherhoods, the 365 steps of the Calvary to the parish church. Especially impressive is the silence with so many people, you only hear the drumbeats while the hooded figures pass by in the torchlight. Come early and find a good place by the stairs!


 

Easter Sunday: Procession of the rising – The resurrection

Today's procession marks the reunion of the risen Jesus with his mother. The statue of Jesus is carried by a group of men, and a group of women carry the statue of Mary, with the statues jumping up and down to illustrate the joy. On Easter Sunday, the evening mass is worth seeing in the Cathedral of La Seu in Palma de Mallorca. All the priests of Majorca are present, the Bishop of Palma leads the Mass, the culmination of which is the rites of the Blessed Sacraments.

 

Culinary Easter enjoyment

On Easter Sunday and Easter Monday it is family time. The beautiful weather with mild temperatures and mostly sunshine attracts many Mallorquins outside into nature to have a picnic with friends and the whole family. Invite your friends and family for an Easter dinner on your luxury yacht! Or make a shore excursion, bars and restaurants prepare sumptuous meals, one meets on these days quite relaxed with family and friends to feast.

Traditionally eaten during Easter on Majorca, are the so-called 'Panades', half-round, baked in fat, with meat, fish or vegetables stuffed shortbread. Usually vegetables with raisins and pine nuts are served. The sweet variant are the 'Robiols', with a filling of quark or jam. These filled biscuits are generally called 'Empanadas'. If you do not yet have Mallorquin friends who share with you this Easter tradition, in every good bakery you will find these delicious treats. You should also try the 'Pa de Figa' - fig bread - a culinary, Mediterranean delight for the palate!




The Semana Santa is a unique opportunity to experience the traditional Mallorcan way of life from a fascinating side. If you want to spend unforgettable Easter holidays in Mallorca, you should book your luxury yacht as early as possible - even though our fleet of luxury yachts is large, for good reason the amazing island of Mallorca is booked out over Easter months in advance.