FIESTAS IN EL PILAR DE LA MOLA

FEAST DAY IN EL PILAR  (LA MOLA) FORMENTERA

On October 12th, the small town of La Mola del Pilar in Formentera celebrated his big day, the day of its patron and therefore people dressed in gala costumes. Although these days have been rainy, the sky during this celebration wore an intense blue color highlighting more the festivity.

The festivities of each parish in the islands of Ibiza and Formentera are familiars, and some of them have some traditional features, in this case to be the Patroness of the village of La Mola is also the Patroness of the Civil Guard who also celebrate their big day, and they are those who take charge of the image in the procession.

The little and white temple remains very small to accommodate the people and tourists who join the celebration. The folks take the images that will participate in the procession through a side door of the church.

The procession starts from the church by the main road and later by the back quiet roads of the population, that pass between centenarian stone walls and fields of Formentera.

The touch of color puts the folk group with its bright colors that  accompany the procession dressed in their finery.

In this festival no shortage of bright colors of the costumes of Formentera that although equal to those of Ibiza have some small difference.

Once the procession ends begin the typical traditional dances that fill with their movements give even more color to this tiny town.

The dances are the same as Ibizans are two islands that unlike the rest of the Balearics have kept the dance, costumes and oldest instruments in the archipelago. As a curiosity the footwear in the traditional costumes of Formentera is usually not like that of Ibiza in the case of women and unlike her sister island, they usually carry different shoes.

Tourists are impressed by the notes of color in traditional costumes, music and dance, and when the dance end, everyone is invited to "oreilletes",  a typical dessert of the island, that maybe has its origins in north Africa, as the Arab heritage is constant in the culture of Ibiza and Formentera. In fact Formentera is the Balearic island closest to the African continent.

Next year on October 12th, same time, same place. 

In the La Mola del Pilar of Formentera, folks will wear their best clothes for their traditional festivities again.

AUGUST 5TH SAINT PATRON OF IBIZA AND FORMENTERA

FESTIVITIES OF IBIZA TOWN 

PROCESSION OF OUR LADY OF THE SNOWS

For the second consecutive year is celebrated in Ibiza the procession of its patron saint, Our Lady of the Snows. The tour begins in the new area of the city, specifically from the parish of Santa Cruz, to the Cathedral located at the top of the hill where is located the ancient city of Ibiza today is "World Heritage" since 1999.

Some parishes involved carrying banners of their parish to accompany the patron saint of Ibiza and Formentera through the streets of the city. The best is when passing through a part of the impressive walls of the city of Ibiza.

The entrance to one of the most beautiful places in Ibiza (Portal de ses Taules) is somewhat complicated and you have to lower the image .... 

To get to the courtyard of arms, which is a place inside the walls of Ibiza where a few decades ago was located the first hippy market of Ibiza. 

Surprisingly, the patron saint of Ibiza is the Marian advocation of "Snow", snow is a rare event in the island ... but the choice of the patron has a rather historical explanation. 

In 1235, an August 8th, was conquered Ibiza by troops of the Crown of Aragon for the King of Aragon James I the Conqueror, (pictured above the shield of the King of Aragon can be seen embedded on the wall, behind the image of the Virgin), then once conquered the island to the Arabs, it was established that was to be built a church dedicated to St. Mary, however, it was established that the Marian devotion would be chosen by the closest Marian festivity of August 8, the day which the island was conquered. So, Santa Maria de las Nieves (also known as Santa Maria Maggiore) was choosen as Patron of Ibiza, and the new church was dedicated to her, as his feast day is celebrated on August 5th. 

The image continues its way towards the cathedral, passing through the famous city walls, and the most emblematic places of the town, while passing by the famous "Plaza de Vila" folks will mixing with tourists who are surprised with the fest. 

At this point the procession must face the most hard part because now comes the steepest slopes that reach the cathedral. Gradually the lights dim smoothly and the streets will be more narrows as we climb.

HOLY WEEK IN IBIZA

CELEBRATIONS OF THE HOLY WEEK IN OLD TOWN (DALT VILA)

In processions and celebrations the Holy Week of Ibiza is not really popular if we compare with those of Sevilla or Zamora, Valladolid, Murcia or Cuenca, where they are really known. The Holy Week processions in Ibiza are much simpler and not so famous, but have not been few people from many different countries who have told me that they were pleasantly surprised at the beauty of this celebration in such a unique setting as the walled city of Dalt Vila, the ancient old town of Ibiza.

The narrow, winding streets help in this quiet and devotional celebration, and  makes it even more impressive the Good Friday procession in the late evening. Larger images barely fit through some of the narrow streets, so, in these streets, the procession proceeds much slower than in the downtown, newer area, where subsequently the streets become wider. Sometimes in some places the number of public is limited because there is very little place indeed.

In some parts of the procession, we can enjoy the spectacular backdrop of the ancient city walls. the bible story mix with the history of this city. These ancient walls once defended the walled area of the ancient city that were heavily protected from pirates attacks, and other threats. Perfect backdrop then, for the Good Friday traditional procession that is further enhanced by the beauty of these walls.

During the Holy Week that starts the previous friday  the Good Friday, the streets are the scene of various processions to be held for several specific days,  but the most important is the one which is held on Good Friday evening. The city illuminates their walls to the passage of the different images, ranging through the streets of the city. As I said before, is not the most popular procession of Spain, but may be the one with the most spectacular setting, with its city walls that are among the best preserved in the Mediterranean, and that in 1999 the UNESCO declared World Heritage Site.

CARNIVAL IN IBIZA

LA RÚA DE CARNAVAL
CARNIVAL IN THE STREETS OF IBIZA 

Boundless imagination, streets full of color and choreography, and even laughter or moments for reflection because sometimes the features exposed by the people who participate are present characters, although there are also classics that are a must in a carnival.

Ibiza in carnivals can not compete with Rio de Janeiro, nor Tenerife, but there is no doubt that the streets are animated and filled with colorful with the cavalcade of this popular and local carnival held every year on Carnival Sunday. And the proof: these images that show that imagination and ingenuity are not lacking. From the Disney classics like The Lion King, where they staged a spectacular choreography.

And also the  Latins rhythms, percussion and dance during the hours-long parade, that passes through the main streets of the city. In the picture a group who brought to Ibiza, the island rhythms of Cuba.

The word "Carnival"  is always linked with Brazil, so there is always some Brazilian reminiscent, also here in the Carnival of Ibiza, which is quite international. Anyway the temperatures in February in Ibiza are a bit differents from the carioca country, but fortunately this year we were lucky, and the sun shone the whole time on the parade.

Ibiza´s carnival also mention some issues of the island. Here the huge parade of urchins, a very ibicenc animal that becomes every time less usual in the island fields. This is a tribute to this animal that is almost made of thousands spikes.

The aviation was present on several occasions, and in this participation there were  various colored planes made of baloons, which was dedicated to the 40 airmen. A very "retro" fashion and features.

This one was also about aviation, and to the fashion, was included a live music concert with a wonderful coreography.

Egypt, the ancient and powerful Egypt was also present into the Ibiza streets, the group performed on a spectacular choreography and very colorful costumes of the ancient Egypt era.

The carnival of Venice is worldwide famous. For those who could not go there this time, a group brought the Venice carnival here, a group dressed with elegant costumes through the city.

the imagination in carnival is very vast indeed, and also the characters in stories have their place here. Kings, princes, soldiers, maids.... etc. In the picture above the members of an association recreates the story of "Rapunzel".

The great classics are also present here, although the day was beautiful and very very sunny, a huge group performed the "singing in the rain", so the umbrellas this time were useful for the spectacular coreagrafia that these young people did.

The Carnival says goodbye, until next year, when the next carnival Sunday 2015 will be held once more, this parade through the Ibiza streets offering colourful and happiness.

PALM SUNDAY IN SANT JORDI DE SES SALINES

VIA CRUCIS IN SANT JORDI

Es Passos de Setmana Santa (in Ibiza is the way to say Via Crucis) is a tradition that is almost celebrated at all parishes of the island, although the celebration day for the via crucis varies from one parish to another. Most of them do so on the evening of Holy Thursday but there are some exceptions as in the church of Sant Jordi de Ses Salines that celebrates it during the evening of Palm Sunday. 

"Es Passos" in Sant Jordi are among the most beautiful on the island, since the majority of women participating in the procession, dressed in the suit, reminds the old Ibiza and, also with the mantle with which in the past, they went to church or was used for any religious acts.

It is fortunate that this parish manage to keep this lovely tradition and certainly all those involved in this act for a moment revive that old Ibiza that persuaded people who came from outside. It's wonderful that we can still see today these beautiful pictures that give us the churches during Easter but especially those that offer the residents of Sant Jordi.

The via crucis consists of fourteen stations that are developed around the church. Some are marked with a cross. At each stop, participants carrying the two images, they listen a gospel passage from each station, they say a prayer and ends with a song. In Ibiza there are various kinds of songs for "es passos" but the most popular is one that has its origins in Tarragona, and is sung in Sant Jordi; in other parishes are sung some others, that have a more ancient origin and are from the island itself.

The image of Christ crucified is the first to go in the way of these processions, or in some parishes just the one. Always carried by men followed by the women at the back. Another ancient tradition that still exists today in some rural churches of the island, the men sit separately from women.

Behind men, the image of Our Lady of Sorrows which is carried here by women, follow men. These two images are the only two that come in this procession of "Passos" or Way of the Cross in churches on the island.

For those visiting Ibiza this Easter or for residents of other villages on the island, you can see this celebration in Sant Jordi on Palm Sunday afternoon.

The devotion, ritual, customs and tradition come together at Ibiza's churches during Holy Week, also in Sant Jordi with the participation from the parish of San Jorge makes it even more special and colorful.

"ES PASSOS" IN SANT VICENT DE SA CALA

HOLY WEEK IN SAN VICENTE (SA CALA)

Although most of the parish churches celebrate it on Good Thursday, few of them do the Vía Crucis on previous Palm Sunday, as here in Sant Vicent de Sa Cala. This rural Vía Crucis is called by the locals "es passos". there are fourteen stations where they stop at each marked cross, and then the Priest reads about that station of the Christ passion and then men sing a very old traditional song for each station, and so do women as well, after them.

There is something that can amaze the visitors, sometimes this church during the Holy Week is surrounded by many multicolours bands due the near feast celebration of San Vicente Ferrer the saint Patron of the little village and so, sometimes they celebrate the Passion surrounded by many small flags hanging from the church.

The outdoors crosses are the sign of where to stop the porcession of this Vía Crucis and celebrate each station. the "passos" of Sa Cala and San Miguel are the most ancients of the whole island and are really interesting. In all this kind of processions men are supporting the Christ image...

...meanwhile women are surrounding the Virgin Mary of the Sorrows that follows his son, during the procession as we can see at the above footage.

So, during some moments these two images go around the little village, and are surrounded by beautiful and natural landscape.

It can happen that the 5th of april (as this year) can be as well the Good Thursday or Good Friday or another day of the Holy Week, when the catholic church celebrates the mourning of Christ. So, the festivity of the Saint Vincent will be celebrating on the next sunday which is the Resurrection day.

The image of Our Lady of Sorrows, in this parish is not dressed in black, but grabs in his hands the nails that held up his son on the cross, visible is her heart with seven daggers (pains). Thanks to younger people, these old traditions are remaining alive and seems that will go on, as the roots of their ancestors.