Entertainment in Spain Essential Guide to What's on when and where in Spain Spanish Fiestas, Concerts, Festivals, Events Spain's Tourist, travel and holiday guide THE Spanish travel guide
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Fiesta La Patrona 2 August 2008 Pollenca, Majorca Mock battles on the beach Life was tough in the early days of Spain. Moors fighting Christians, no-one quite knew who had what land, and pirates all over the place from Ifach to Gibralter along the coast and out to the islands, pirates plundered all and sundry. Some towns such as Benissa exist because the locals got fed up with being robbed by pirates every couple of days so they moved ten miles inland. Anyway, over in Majorca around 1550, a local toughie pirate was beaten by villages led by one Joan Mas. That's a good excuse for a party, not that the Spanish need an excuse. The People of Pollenca call this fiesta, 'The Fiesta Patrona' As is common in Spain this fiesta starts with a dawn chorus of traditional songs and bell ringing. That gets everyone into church after which they start the party with traditional dances. Early evening in Spain means a parade and here they carry a statue of the Virgin Mary. As it gets dark the mock battles begin and continue interspersed with serious drinking and eating. Lots of fireworks and mascletas, dancing and singing continue into the night. You need some stamina to live in Spain. August |
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