Sant Antoni

Do you happen to have a pet owl? Then you should bring it to Palma de Mallorca on the day of Sant Antoni’s festival. Sant Antoni is the patron saint of animals, and all over Spain people take their animals to receive a blessing outside the church. 

 

This festival lasts in some areas for a whole week, and some people say it’s the biggest celebration here in Mallorca. That is, apart from all the other celebrations, of which there seems to be one every other week at least. 

 

The centre of Palma de Mallorca is all aflutter when I get there, with the old people having brought their chairs out to get in front of the crowd and get an extra good look.  

 

Police on horseback make sure everything goes ahead in an orderly manner, and one policeman has also brought his dog, a German Shepherd. However, the little dog is only a few months old, so it doesn’t exactly inspire fear. On the contrary, it jumps all over people trying to get at their ensaimada, (a traditional Mallorcan cake) and generally acts super cute. 

 

The mounted police lead the way, with three solemn-looking drummers in traditional Spanish uniform at their heels. Then comes a marching band with at least 20 musicians, playing cheerful and strangely danceable marches, followed by two musicians in Mallorcan folk costume playing a kind of bagpipe and drum.  

 

One would think the noise and music would scare some of the dogs, but no. Like the Mallorcan people themselves, the dogs are calm and laid-back, enjoying meeting all these strangers and being photographed and filmed.  

“Is he afraid?” I ask the owner.  

“No, I’m the one who’s afraid!” comes the answer.  

I would be too! Those claws could dig straight through my arm. Apart from the owl, there are also several falcons, looking bored. Well, I think they look bored, but actually, I don’t really know what a bored bird looks like.  

 

The procession starts outside the mighty La Seu Cathedral, perhaps Mallorca’s tourist attraction number one, and winds its way through the narrow, medieval streets of the Old Town to San Miguel Church. That’s right, San Miguel, or Sant Miquel, was actually a saint, not just a beer.  

 

The area around the church is packed with people, and on a podium stands the priest in full regalia together with a statue of Sant Antoni, Bible in hand and a black pig at his feet.  

 

The blessing begins, and as the sun beats down and the old people chatter excitedly, the priest blesses each Sharpei, Chihuahua, Labrador and bird of prey, as well as the police horses.  

 

<p class="text-grey"What a beautiful morning in the stunning city of Palma, and what a lovely tradition. I think all countries should have a day for blessing animals. But since they don’t, why not come here and see it for yourself? 

 

And if it’s not the Festival of Sant Antoni when you’re here, in Mallorca you are 100 per cent guaranteed to find another festival, for on this sun-filled island there’s always something exciting going on. 

 

We know when and where all the best parties are, and will set up an itinerary perfectly suited to your interests.  

And then we’ll have paella.  

 

Contact us for more information about our Mediterranean tours.