SANT BARTOMEU 2009

HOLIDAY IN HONOUR TO SANTA AGNES IN SANT ANTONI DE

PORTMANY ON SAINT BARTHOLOME´S DAY

This way it would be the name of these holidays(parties) that according to the tradition maaany years ago, maybe hundreds of them a ship in a strong tempest was furrowing for the Mediterranean. On board of this ship the sailors had a picture (other sources talk about an image) of Saint Agnes on board and they promised that they would deliver it in the port where they were arriving safe. On August 24 (I do not know if anyone knows the year) they came to Portmany's Port, where they did delivery the picture (or image) of Saint Agnes. From this date and reminding this event on this day the holidays were celebrated in honor to Saint Agnes (not to confuse with the neighboringvillage of Santa Agnés that though it would treat itself of same Saint, the date of celebration in the neighboring village is the January 21th). There are historical chronicles that talks about holiday(party) to which meet people of the whole island, were celebrated in the " Santa Agne´s Cave" at few kilometres of the town, there there was a great lake where it was the point of meeting. The part of the cave with the lake seems to be that was ruined and the holiday stayed a bit in the oblivion. Nowadays they are known popularly like festes of Sant Bartomeu, not knowing the origin as why of the holiday. It seems that thanks to a very famous Priest in the Town called Bartomeu, the "fiesta" re-threw again this festivity.
Nowadays the biggest point of this festivity are the spectaculars fireworks at midnight of the August 24th. People all over the island are concentrated here to see them.

Here you are some views of this fireworks this year.
The bay was under the fireworks colours from the performance. And now we must wait untill next year to see the next ones.