Holy week in Mallorca: devotion and tradition

Holy Week on Mallorca is not only a religious celebration to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but also a popular tradition. The liturgical events begin this year on April 13 (Palm Sunday), with the blessing of the Palms, followed by the Procession that represents the triumphant entry into Jerusalem by Jesus. This is held in all the Parishes.

In Palma there will be processions every day, from Monday 14 to Friday 18, but the most important are the ones known as "Crist de la Sang" (Maundy Thursday, 7 p.m.) and "Sant Enterrament" (Good Friday, 7.30 p.m.), which are also held in nearly all the towns on Mallorca.

On Good Friday, the spectacular "Davallament" is held at the Calvari of Pollença: the procession with the image of the dead Jesus descends the Calvari hill down the 365 stone steps, bordered by Yew trees. We also recommend the "Davallament" in Arta, in the Sant Salvador enclosure, and the procession in Sineu.

The Holy Week finishes on Easter Sunday, with the procession "Encontre" which represents the meeting of the newly risen Jesus with his mother, held in most towns. But the next week the related activities continue, with the traditional "Pancaritats" and "Romeries" to sanctuaries and hermitages.

Photos © Archive BalearWeb:
1. "Processó dels Estendards", Santa Catalina de Siena 2001.
2. "Davallament", Pollença 1999.

Date of publication: 10/04/2003

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