Page 35 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Mallorca, Menorca & Ibiza

THE BALEARIC ISLANDS THROUGH THE Y EAR  33

Average monthly temperature Temperature
Temperatures in the
°C F°
30 85 Balearic Islands rarely
fall below zero.
25 75 This happens only
occasionally in
20 65 December and early
15 January. For this reason,
55
10 many people enjoy
45 out­of­season visits.
5
Summer temperatures
0 32 may soar to 40° C (104° F).
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
commemorating the
Winter town’s conquest by
The Balearic winter is not Jaume I, in 1229.
particularly severe. Nights
are cold, but days are often January
sunny and mild. Christmas is Revetlla i Beneides de
a time of special celebration Sant Antoni Abat
throughout Spain, with fam­ (16–17 Jan), Mallorca.
ilies gathering to participate Fiesta with bonfires,
in religious festivities. parades and the
blessing of animals.
People wander
between the bonfires, Carnival in Palma, Mallorca
dressed in costumes,
dancing and consuming fiesta, called Sa Rua (the
large quantities of eel and Cavalcade), takes
vegetable pies. place in Palma and its
Processo dels Tres Tocs (17 surrounding resorts.
Jan), Ciutadella, Menorca. The
Procession of the Three Strikes Public Holidays
Working in the fields during early spring marks the victory of Alfonso III
over the Muslims, in 1287. Año Nuevo New Year’s Day
December Festa de Sant Sebastià (1 Jan)
Noche Buena (24 Dec). (20 Jan), Pollença, Mallorca. Día de Reyes Epiphany
Christmas Eve is celebrated Procession carrying a banner (6 Jan)
within the family circle, and with the image of the saint Jueves Santo Maundy
often includes midnight and with two dancers, Thursday (Mar/Apr)
Mass. Numerous nativity called cavallets, mounting Viernes Santo Good Friday
plays and scenes are wooden horses. (Mar/Apr)
organized in Palma. Día de Pascua Easter
Santos Inocentes (28 Dec). February (Mar/Apr)
The Spanish equivalent of Carnival Parades (Feb/Mar).
Britain’s April Fool’s day. Fancy­dress balls marking the Fiesta de Trabajo Labour Day
(1 May)
Festa de l’Estandard (31 Dec), end of Carnival, before
Palma, Mallorca. Feast Lent. The most spectacular Corpus Christi (early Jun)
Asuncíon Assumption of the
Virgin (15 Aug)
Día de la Hispanidad
National Day (12 Oct)
Todos los Santos All Saints’
Day (1 Nov)
Día de la Constitución
Constitution Day (6 Dec)
Inmaculada Concepción
Immaculate Conception
(8 Dec)
Navidad Christmas Day
(25 Dec)
Fishing from a traditional Balearic boat in Autumn

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