JANUARY |
5-6 |
Arrival of the Three Kings to the port of Alcúdia, adoration of the Baby Jesus at the Church of La Mare de Déu del Carme and Sant Pere and parade to the town centre with adoration of the living nativity scene in Porta del Moll.
Traditional concert of the Three Kings by the Municipal Band and the Ciutat d'Alcúdia Choir.
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16-17 |
Celebration of the Festival of Sant Antoni Abat, patron saint of animals. The parade of the “dimonis” starting at the Town Hall and the lighting of bonfires are held on 16 January. The traditional blessings of animals take place in the open area by the Church of Sant Jaume on 17 January. |
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FEBRUARY-MARCH-APRIL |
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Carnival Festival. The parade makes its way around the old part of town on the last Sunday of Carnival. Schools organize parades for children during Carnival. |
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FEBRUARY-MARCH-APRIL |
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Holy Week. The Procession of Silence takes place on the streets of Alcúdia on Palm Sunday.
The traditional Easter processions take place on the streets of the old quarter on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
On Maundy Thursday godfathers traditionally give a “rotllo” to their godsons. It is a round cake topped with sweets that children wear around their necks.
The Procession of the Encounter is held on Easter Sunday. It is popularly known as “Es tres botets” (the three little jumps) because the sculpture of the Virgin is equipped with an articulation that enables it to perform the three jumps, a sign of joy when she sees the resurrected Jesus.
On Easter Tuesday the people of Alcúdia go on a pilgrimage to the Chapel of La Victòria to eat their last “panades” (meat pies).
A pilgrimage to the cave of Sant Martí takes place on Angel Sunday. The Ciutat d'Alcúdia Choir performs their traditional concert.
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JUNE |
29 |
Festival of Sant Pere, patron saint of sailors. A sea procession takes place on 29 June. Boats are decorated and parade with the sculpture of the patron saint around the bay. A variety of cultural and leisure activities including parades, dances and a variety of concerts are held during the previous week in the port of Alcúdia. |
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JULY |
1-2 |
The Festival of La Mare de Déu de la Victòria takes place in the chapel with the same name. It starts in the evening with a race to the chapel including several categories. At night, there is “ball de bot” (traditional Mallorcan dance) with the local groups Sarau Alcudienc and Tacàritx. The festival continues until the early hours of the morning with songs played to the rhythm of the guitars. The following morning, at 8:30am, fireworks are launched from the Town Hall and the Band parades around the town to tell people that the festival continues in La Victòria. A concelebrated mass with the traditional offering of camomile is held at 11am. The typical “corregudes de joies” (traditional races) take place after the mass. In the evening there is “ball de bot” with the band. The Mayor traditionally opens the dance with the “Jota de La Victòria”.
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JULY |
25 |
Sant Jaume is the patron saint of Alcúdia. A large number of events are organized during this week-long festival: concerts, dances, theatre, exhibitions and religious celebrations centred around the Sant Jaume high mass in the parish church. |
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JULY |
26 |
The procession of Sant Christ is held every three years to commemorate the miracle of 1507. Tradition says that the sculpture sweated blood and water, putting an end to a period of drought. The 500th anniversary of the miracle was celebrated in 2007. |
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AUGUST |
24 |
In the Festival of the Lanterns the children of Alcúdia parade with lanterns made of melons and water melons singing traditional Mallorcan songs and songs composed for the occasion. |
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SEPTEMBER |
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The Festival of La Mare de Déu de Santa Anna takes place on the first Sunday of September since times immemorial. The festival is traditionally linked to the 13th century chapel of Santa Anna and to horses and horse racing. There are several categories of races, but trotting is the main event. Horse tradition is very much alive in Alcúdia. |
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OCTOBER |
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The fair is held on the first weekend of October. It is devoted to agriculture, handicraft, industry and trade. The Estol del Rei En Jaume (King Jaume I’s gang) parade on Saturday. It is a group of fictional “capgrossos” (big, hollow head masks covering the head and shoulders of the porter) representing traditional Mallorcan characters. They parade along the streets of Alcúdia.
Traditional serenades are sung to girls and women on the Saturday of “Les Verges”. A group of local musicians gather around the windows of young single women to sing them songs requested by their suitors, fathers, grandfathers or friends. To show their gratitude, the girls invite the musicians to “bunyols” and sweet wine.
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DECEMBER |
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Christmas festivities. The most outstanding events are the midnight mass, the chant of la Sibil•la, the nativity scene and carol competitions and the New Year’s party, among others. On Sant Esteve Day (26 December) Alcúdia commemorates an historical event: the victory against the “agermanats”. |
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