Photographer: José Juan ‘Potti’ Luna
The Easter celebrations start on Palm Sunday, when the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem is commemorated with a procession in which locals carry the olive and palm branches which are kept in homes to ward off evil. On Holy Thursday there are processions in all Mallorcan villages, with traditional floats representing scenes from the martyrdom of Jesus, accompanied by hundreds of penitents. The procession in Palma de Mallorca is one of the most spectacular due to the vast amount of people who take part. On Good Friday the processions of floats and penitents are repeated, and the descent of Christ from the cross is acted out. The most impressive performances take place in Artà (grounds of Sant Salvador), Pollença (Oratori del Calvari), Felanitx (in front of the Church of Sant Miquel) and in Palma.
On the morning of Easter Sunday the Procession of Reunion is held; this involves the representation of the reunion of Christ with the Virgin Mary after his resurrection. Finally, on Easter Monday most villages have pancaritats, though others wait until Angel Sunday (the Sunday after Easter); this celebration consists of climbing up to hermitages and sanctuaries to spend the day in the open air.
Easter falls in the month of March or April.