|
23rd June: |
|
14:00 |
Palace of the "Caixer Senyor" |
18:00 |
Placa des Born, where horses and
riders demonstrate their skills and elegance to the rhythm of the
"jaleo", which is the typical music of the fiesta. During the
"jaleo" the horses are encouraged to rear up onto their back legs
whilst the local people (only the brave or very stupid ones!) try to
support the horse, and keep it up for as long as possible. |
19:30 |
The rural chapel of Sant Joan de
Missa, which is 3km from the centre of Ciutadella. |
21:00 |
The Calle de Ses Voltes, Plaza de
la Catedral. |
23:30 |
The narrow streets between Ses
Voltes and the museum of the Bastio de Sa Font and Santa Clara. |
24th June: |
|
10:00 |
The trials for the Medieval games
are held in the Placa de Sant Joan in the port of Ciutadella. |
18:00 |
The "convidada" takes place. This
is when the "noble rider" invites the town hall officials to view
the games that take place an hour later. These "games" are the most
spectacular and dangerous of the fiesta and only the most
experienced riders are allowed to take part. They consist of three
trials of equestrian skills. The first is the "Ensortilla", which is
a test of equilibrium and aim, the second is the "rompre ses
carotes", which is a jousting test between two riders, and finally
the most dangerous test in which two horses set off on a gallop
together, with their riders arm in arm. |
The Fiesta of Sant Joan is not the only event in the Ciutadella cultural calendar. The first event of the year is the Fiesta of Sant Antoni which takes place on January 17th each year, when few, if any tourists are on the island. The origins of this fiesta can be traced back to 1561, and is a three way celebration of Sant Antoni, the Processo dels Tres Tocs, which translates into English as the Procession of the Three Knocks, which commemorates the Christian conquest of Menorca by Alfonso III of Aragon in 1287, and finally the annual Ciutadella agricultural and craft fair.
The Processo dels Tres Tocs always begins with Mass which is held in the Catedral Basilica of Ciutadella, where the story of the conquest is included as part of the sermon. After Mass, the procession leaves the Cathedral led by three members of the municipal council riding horses and dressed in tails, waistcoats, white breeches, riding boots and wearing a "bicornio" which is a two-cornered hat.
The procession makes its way through the town to where the gate in the old walls used to be, where the the most senior rider dismounts and gives three knocks with a flag pole at the place where the gate was located. On the same day the annual Ciutadella agricultural and craft fair is also held.
This is widely recognised as being one of Menorcas most important agricultural fairs, although over the years it has also developed a more commercial theme. Nevertheless, there's still always exhibitions of local produce and handicrafts, along with displays of industrial and agricultural machinery.
Every year on the Thursday following Ash Wednesday, which by tradition is always 46 days before Easter, through to the following Tuesday, most of the larger towns on Menorca celebrate their annual Carnival. As with a fiesta, there's always a parade of floats through the town along with a varied selection of sporting and musical events to get the community involved in.
Possibly the most bizarre tradition that takes place each year in Ciutadella is the annual "Matances de Bujots", or "Death of the Bujot". The event always begins at noon following the Easter Sunday Mass, where a number of straw figures (the bujots) representing both politicians and other contemporary figures of ridicule, are shot with hunting rifles until the effigy falls to the ground in flames, to the obvious delight of the crowds.
For safety reason, the cartridges fired are specially manufactured for the event, and are blanks which have a small amount of gunpowder and a plug. The whole event usually lasts for no more than 10 minutes or so, during which around 300 shots are fired at each bujot.
If ever proof was needed that the Menorcan people can celebrate even the most tragic part of their history, then look no further than the annual Fiesta commemorating Any de sa Desgracia, which translates into English as either "Our Year of Misfortune" or "Our Year of Disgrace". The fiesta is commemorated on July 9, when in 1558 Ciutadella underwent brutal destruction which was led by Turkish troops backed by France and the Vatican.
This website was launched on 1 May 2002