| An ideal time to take a Mallorcan holiday is in January. | | | | will be parades and floats in the streets on both the |
| That way not only do you miss the summer holiday | | | | eve of the festival and Sant Antoni Abat itself, with |
| crowds, but you can also experience some of the | | | | locals dressing in traditional Mallorcan costumes and |
| local cultures and traditions. One of Mallorca's most | | | | thronging on the streets. |
| celebrated festivals is Sant Antoni Abat and it takes | | | | When the fire dancing has subsided, folk music will be |
| place each year in January, bringing a vibrant | | | | played around the bonfire and ancient tales told. You |
| atmosphere to the island. A commemoration of Sant | | | | should join in and cook toast and sausages on the |
| Antoni Abat, who was the patron saint of agriculture | | | | embers as the locals do. One meal worth eating is |
| and animals and the guardian of crops, it is a two-day | | | | the traditional dish Espinagada - made from eels. |
| event that is guaranteed to provide entertainment | | | | There are numerous other festivals that take place in |
| and fun for visitors. | | | | Mallorca thoughout the year. In January Sant |
| Sant Antoni lived in the third or fourth century AD | | | | Sebastia's Eve takes place, which is a huge draw for |
| and helped to protect creatures that worked on the | | | | visitors as they play live music in the town squares, |
| island. During the day church services are held and | | | | and in the summer months there are lots of events |
| many people take their pets and livestock to mass | | | | and celebrations. These include the horse festival - |
| to have a special blessing. The eve of the festival | | | | Saint Joan - each June, where riders travel though |
| sees the majority of the events take place. | | | | the towns in costume. This month also sees the |
| Bonfires are lit throughout the island and villagers and | | | | festivals Sant Joan Pelos and Romeria de Sant Marcal. |
| tourists alike dance around them in a process that is | | | | There is also the main July fiesta, Our Lady of the |
| supposed to burn the devil, an ancient ritual of | | | | Sea, which honours the Virgen del Carmen, patroness |
| purification and the triumph of good over evil. There | | | | of fishermen, with a flotilla of fishing boats. |