San Antoni Abat’s Eve
16 Jan 2010 - 19:34
Pollensa
The fiesta of 'San Antonio Abat' : colcades, foguerons, cavallets and traditional dances. Of an evening large bonfires are lit and locals dress up and dance around them. This is celebrated also in Sa Pobla, Arta, Costitx, Manacor and Sant Joan. In Sa Pobla the traditional savory cakes are made called 'Espinegades', which are a little like Pizza slices. The story goes that a monk called Antonio Abat was walking past the gates to hell and standing at the entrance was the devil. In fear for the people of the island Antonio challenged the devil to a game of 21 ( played with stones ) If Antonio won then the devil would go back to hell. Of course he won and therefore saved the people of Mallorca from a terrible fate. In some villages the children are responsible for protecting the adults from the devil ( usually local councillors dressed up as the devil) when they poke their forks into the adults the children will sing the song of San Antonio and the devil will run away.