During the month of February, the carnival in Mallorca fills the streets with music, colour, joy, and a lot of fun. Although this year it won't be the same, we didn't want to miss the opportunity to tell you a little more about the history of the carnival in Palma de Mallorca, and what makes it so special.
The celebration of the carnival in Mallorca dates back 1,500 years to medieval times. The carnival is a continuation of the ancient medieval festivities at the end of Lent, where costumes and masks were used to hide people's identities and entertain the population.
Nobles and commoners alike mingled in a sea of masks and costumes where they could indulge their pleasures. It was three days of really celebrating and living it up, when almost anything went. This is one of the reasons why covering one's face and safeguarding one's anonymity is part of the traditional carnival festivities in Mallorca.
Nowadays, each carnival in Mallorca has its own name according to the age of its audience. Sa Rua is the name of the carnival for adults and Sa Rueta is the carnival designed especially for the youngest members of the family.
In Mallorca's mini carnival, Sa Rueta, which usually has its own day, different children's games and activities are held all over the island. The activities for children hit the streets of the towns and villages of Mallorca, inviting everyone to dress up as their favourite superheroes, troupe dancers, film characters, or whatever’s in fashion at the time.
The colour, joy, and magic of the carnival festival invite us to have great family fun accompanied by fantastic processions and shows for the little ones. Juggling, dancing, clowns, puppets, and even small theatre performances are the most popular activities during the carnival season in Mallorca, both in the city of Palma and in the towns and villages, which put on their own activities.
Although the festival is celebrated all over the island, Sa Rua, the carnival of Palma de Mallorca, is undoubtedly the most popular carnival parade, as is Sa Rueta. Although it all happens at the same time of the year, several towns have different dates to the Palma de Mallorca carnival, and even continue the festivities for a few days longer - ideal for those who want to experience the carnival spirit in all its glory!
Both the Ruas and the Ruetas begin on Dijous Llarder and continue throughout the weekend. On the first day of the carnival in Palma de Mallorca, the rei Carnestoltes (or king of the tarambanas) is welcomed, who, according to legend, arrives on the island to start the celebrations. Then, the day of Sa Rua takes place on Carnival Sunday, while Sa Rueta is celebrated the previous day in the afternoon.
From that moment on, all the towns and villages are transformed with processions of floats, dancers, and all sorts of characters. In general, the Mallorcans spend many months elaborating these decorative elements, which are then displayed for the public to admire and celebrate.
Many people work on the elaboration of these products for the carnival in Palma de Mallorca and that’s why there are prizes for the best floats and groups. The prizes are awarded based on criteria such as the artistic quality of the decoration, the atmosphere of the float, the animation carried out by the float's participants, and the incorporation of live music to accompany the float. These prizes, as well as the prizes for the best costumes, are awarded once the Palma de Mallorca carnival parade is over.
Another traditional element of carnival time in Mallorca are the costumes and masks. During the celebrations, it’s common to see children and adults alike dressing up to celebrate the carnival. But it’s also a time to enjoy typical Mallorcan dishes, such as ensaimadas, cocas dulces, and greixoneras, as well as some torrades or street barbecues.
Many of these Mallorcan traditions have been preserved over the centuries thanks to the fact that these February carnival rituals are still celebrated with the same enthusiasm and energy as in the original celebrations.
Fireworks, costume parties, dances, concerts, entertainment for the whole family, and much more await you during carnival time on the island. It’s an event you won't want to miss, but, unfortunately, you'll have to wait until 2022 to enjoy it in all its glory.