Nowhere in the world is Easter celebrated as intensively as in Spain! And also in Mallorca, Semana Santa, Holy Week, is a special time when many events take place. The processions that take place in many places are particularly impressive!
Easter customs are catholic in Mallorca
While in Germany Easter is more of a family celebration and the customs tend to revolve around egg dyeing and egg hunts, the Catholic faith plays a major role in Mallorca and determines Easter and the activities. The processions of the more than 50 brotherhoods on the island play a major role in this. On Maundy Thursday evening, for example, there is the “Processió de la Sang”, where 30 brotherhoods parade through the streets in medieval costumes with iron chains and figures of saints. On Good Friday, processional games take place in several places on the island – one of the most famous is probably the Descent from the Cross on Calvary in Pollenca.
Those who experience the Easter processions for the first time are often somewhat irritated by the robes and especially the hoods that the brotherhoods wear. However, these are only to protect privacy while the men indulge in penance. The altars with figures of saints that are carried through the streets, often weighing tons, are also very impressive. The events often go well into the night and are accompanied by countless spectators.
More Easter customs on Mallorca
Even if processions of this kind are relatively foreign to us in Germany, there are customs that we share. Because the Easter egg also has a tradition on Mallorca and people like to nibble it. In the pastry shops in particular, you can see many beautiful, elaborately decorated chocolate eggs, which, according to custom, are given away by the godparents to the children. Of course, the children are really looking forward to that and it is definitely one of the highlights for them at Easter.
Of course, the food also plays an important role. Empanadas are my favorite on Easter Saturday. The dumplings are heartily filled in different ways – and cookies are made from the leftover dough. On Easter Monday, Mallorquins like to go out for a picnic or to go to a restaurant to eat with the family. Because like on many other public holidays, getting together with the family naturally plays a very important role!
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