The festival of the Patron of Pollensa is one of the largest festivals in Mallorca. Celebrated every year at the beginning of August, the Patrona lasts for several days culminating in a “mock” battle remembering the day of May 30th in 1550, when the Christians, led by Joan Mas, won a key victory over the Moores led by the Pirate Dragut Rais.
The festival actually lasts for just over a week, with the town having already chosen sides the month before, and buildings throughout the town being decorated with the insignia of the Moores and Christians. The Patrona overlaps with the Pollensa Music Week which makes late July to Early September a particularly interesting and fun time to be in Pollensa Old Town.
The date of the actual Patrona festival is August 2, the day of the Mare de Déu dels Angels (Our Lady of the Angels). The celebrations start at five in the morning in Pollensa’s Plaza Mayor with the traditional hymn, the Alborada (Auborada). The song is performed several times until dawn in different parts of town.
The next event is at 11 am with a Mass in honour of the patroness, the Mare de Déu dels Angels, and then the dance of Els Cossiers is performed inside the church and then in the Plaza Mayor. Further social activities, music, dancing and drinking continue throughout the day to the next part of the main event, the procession of the image of the patron saint through the streets of Pollensa.
The most anticipated moment is at 19.00 where the mock battle kicks off in the square of the Almoina. There is a meeting between Joan Mas and Dragut along with his lieutenant after which Joan Mas cries “Mare de Déu dels Àngels, assistiu-mos. Pollencins, aixecau-vos, que els pirates ja són aquí!” (Virgin of the Angels, Help. Pollensines, arise as the pirates are already here!).
Then the mock battles begin in earnest. From the Plaza de la Almoina to the Church of Sant Jordi, where the battles re-enacts “l’Ajuntament Vella”, the release of women and children who had been imprisoned in the church. The third and final confrontation takes place in the football field of Ca’n Escarrintxo. This time, Joan Mas takes the enemy flag and leads his men to the parish church of Pollensa where they sing the Tedeum Puix patron in thanksgiving to the Mare de Déu dels Angels for the victory achieved.
The celebration ends with the new interpretation of the i Visca l’Alborada Pollensa by the band and fireworks, which take place late in the Via Pollentia.
All-in-all this is a spectacular must-see event in the Mallorcan calendar. As with many festivals in Mallorca it is a real celebration on the part of the local community which non-locals are welcome to watch, but will not be part of. Some caution is advised if your aiming to get close to the action as the mock battles are fought with some real passion.
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