THE FESTIVAL OF SAINT SEBASTIA

In January we are celebrating in full swing to honor the patron saint of Palma! The city, as always, will go all out in hosting a series of parades, events, concerts, exhibitions, and of course a correfoc "fire-run" with bonfires and fireworks on the 23rd! Be sure to wear long sleeves and as little flammable items as possible! Sant Sebastià has been the patron saint of the city since 1642. Tradition tells us that in 1523 a presbyter named Suriavisqui arrived in Palma bringing a relic of the saint he had saved from the siege of Rhodes. It seems that when he wanted to leave Mallorca, the ship did not move no matter how much they tried. This was interpreted as a manifestation of the divine will and it was decided to leave the relic in the Cathedral of Palma, since it was a year of plague. Devotion to the saint was consolidated in 1642 when he was appointed patron of the city. From that year the celebration was celebrated with a solemn mass in the cathedral with the assistance of the highest civil authorities. It is from the 80's when the party acquires a marked popular and playful character to the detriment of the religious aspect. The revetla, the eve before the holiday, is one of the most awaited elements by all with high citizen participation: in different places several bonfires are enabled where you can toast and for much of the night you can enjoy live performances of groups known both nationally and locally, as well as regional dances. The next day another tradition that remains in addition to the Eucharist in the Seu, is the famous Cycling Day where a large number of citizens of all ages cycling from the Plaza de Cort to the Palau Municipal d'Esports.

For those with kids, dont miss the Petit Sant Sebastia held at Parc de sa Reira in Palma on January 22nd from 10.30am-2pm: facepainting, bouncy castles, games, music, giants, exhibits and more!