Page 34 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

32  INTRODUCING THE BALEARIC ISLANDS THE BALEARIC ISLANDS THROUGH THE Y EAR  33

Average monthly rainfall Rainfall Average monthly temperature Temperature
mm Inches The lowest rainfall is °C F° Temperatures in the
120 in July; the highest 30 85 Balearic Islands rarely
4 between October and fall below zero.
100 25 75 This happens only
December. Storms are
80 3 rare in the summer. 20 65 occasionally in
Visitors should bear December and early
60 15
2 in mind that in the 55 January. For this reason,
40 mountainous regions 10 many people enjoy
1 clouds may be thicker 45 out­of­season visits.
20 5
and rain more frequent Summer temperatures
0 0 than in the coastal areas. 0 32 may soar to 40° C (104° F).
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
celebrating the discovery of Winter commemorating the
the “New World” by Christopher town’s conquest by
Columbus, in 1492. The Balearic winter is not Jaume I, in 1229.
La Beateta (16 Oct). particularly severe. Nights
Fancy-dress procession are cold, but days are often January
in Palma. Fairs in Alcúdia, sunny and mild. Christmas is Revetlla i Beneides de
Campos, Felanitx, Porreres a time of special celebration Sant Antoni Abat
and Llucmajor. Raft races in throughout Spain, with fam­ (16–17 Jan), Mallorca.
Porto Portals. ilies gathering to participate Fiesta with bonfires,
Festa de Les Verges (21 Oct), in religious festivities. parades and the
Palma. Festival where blessing of animals.
enormous quantities of People wander
buñelos de vientyo cakes are between the bonfires, Carnival in Palma, Mallorca
consumed and young people dressed in costumes,
Performing a traditional dance in Palma to celebrate the Diada de Mallorca sing serenades in honour dancing and consuming fiesta, called Sa Rua (the
of Santa Ursula and the large quantities of eel and Cavalcade), takes
Festa des Vermar (last Sun 11,000 virgins. vegetable pies. place in Palma and its
Autumn in Sep), Binissalem, Mallorca. Festa d’Es Botifarró (3rd Sun Processo dels Tres Tocs (17 surrounding resorts.
After the summer scorchers, A grape-harvest festival with in Oct), Sant Joan, Mallorca. Jan), Ciutadella, Menorca. The
autumn days bring cool air floats and open-air concerts. This festival includes dancing Procession of the Three Strikes Public Holidays
and rain. With the passing of Festa des Meló (first Sun in and music to accompany the Working in the fields during early spring marks the victory of Alfonso III
the peak holiday season, the Sep), Vilafranca de Bonany, eating of large amounts of over the Muslims, in 1287. Año Nuevo New Year’s Day
resorts empty out. Harvest Mallorca. Watermelon sausage (berenada de butifarra) December Festa de Sant Sebastià (1 Jan)
fiestas continue and the Festival, marking the end and vegetable pies (coca Noche Buena (24 Dec). (20 Jan), Pollença, Mallorca. Día de Reyes Epiphany
wine festivals come to of harvest. amb trampó). Christmas Eve is celebrated Procession carrying a banner (6 Jan)
the fore, particularly in within the family circle, and with the image of the saint Jueves Santo Maundy
Binissalem, Mallorca. The October November often includes midnight and with two dancers, Thursday (Mar/Apr)
first juice extracted from Día de la Hispanidad (12 Oct). Todos los Santos (1 Nov). All Mass. Numerous nativity called cavallets, mounting Viernes Santo Good Friday
the grape harvest is blessed Spanish National Holiday Saints’ Day and the following plays and scenes are wooden horses. (Mar/Apr)
and in some places wine is day – Día dels difunts (All Souls organized in Palma. Día de Pascua Easter
served free. Day) – are a time when people Santos Inocentes (28 Dec). February (Mar/Apr)
visit the graves of relatives The Spanish equivalent of Carnival Parades (Feb/Mar).
September and friends. Britain’s April Fool’s day. Fancy­dress balls marking the Fiesta de Trabajo Labour Day
(1 May)
Processió de la Beata (1st Sun Sant Carles (4 Nov), Ibiza. Festa de l’Estandard (31 Dec), end of Carnival, before
in Sep), Santa Margalida, Patron saint’s day, celebrated Palma, Mallorca. Feast Lent. The most spectacular Corpus Christi (early Jun)
Mallorca. A procession of throughout the island. Asuncíon Assumption of the
colourful floats and people Dijous Bo (3rd Thu in Nov), Virgin (15 Aug)
dressed in folk costumes Inca, Mallorca. Important Día de la Hispanidad
honouring Sant Catalina – agricultural feast in National Day (12 Oct)
known as beata – the Mallorca, featuring fairs Todos los Santos All Saints’
blessed one. and revelry. Day (1 Nov)
Diada de Mallorca (12 Sep). Birthday of Junipero Serra Día de la Constitución
Commemorates the signing (24 Nov). Celebrated Constitution Day (6 Dec)
of the Majorcan Statute of throughout the archipelago Inmaculada Concepción
Rights by King Jaume II in as the birthday of this Immaculate Conception
1276, with lively concerts, Franciscan monk who (8 Dec)
conferences and fun sport- founded the cities of San Navidad Christmas Day
ing events at sea and in Es Vedrà on the coast of Ibiza, shrouded Diego, Los Angeles and (25 Dec)
the mountains. in clouds San Francisco (see p81). Fishing from a traditional Balearic boat in Autumn

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