What to do in Mallorca over Easter

Our Guide to Easter in Mallorca

Are you wondering how to celebrate Easter in Mallorca this year? Or perhaps you would just like to know more about this important religious festival? We have created an Easter guide to help you make the most out of this significant cultural date on the Spanish calendar. Although the traditional parades and processions have very sadly been cancelled this year due to coronavirus restrictions, there is still plenty to do and enjoy across the island. 

Easter: The most important religious festivity in Mallorca

Easter is known as Semana Santa in Castellano, which translates as Holy Week, and marks the time of year where Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ after the crucifixion. In Spain, the worship and festivities span a full week which this year, as determined by the lunar calendar, falls at the beginning of April. Although Easter will be different this year, it will nevertheless be a time of reflection, gratitude and joy.

How is Easter traditionally celebrated in Mallorca?

With spring-like weather and fragrant blossoms filling the air, Mallorca is the perfect setting for Semana Santa. Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday which falls on the 28th of March this year. It is the last day of Lent and the commemoration of the day that Jesus arrived in Jerusalem a week before his crucifixion. In Mallorca, there are usually church services in which palm fronds are blessed followed by a procession in all parishes across the island. The palms are then being hung up on balconies throughout the capital city and villages.

On each day of the Holy Week there are usually services, concerts and processions, the most important is the Christ of the Blood on Maundy Thursday and the Holy Burial and re-enactment of the Passion of Christ on Good Friday. The religious processions are a sight to behold: solemn and powerful, groups of hooded parishioners walk slowly and silently down the main streets of every town and village to the beat of a drum, holding pasos which are large floats embellished with religious sculptures of Mary and Jesus and decorated with flowers, candles and gold.

Easter Sunday is a more hopeful and joyful affair to celebrate the resurrected Jesus’ reunion with his mother. Typically, families and friends meet up to have a picnic outside in the spring sunshine and popular meeting places include Bellver Castle in Palma, Alaró Castle in central Mallorca or the Santuari de Gracia in Llucmajor in the south of the island. Don’t forget to check the latest information on social distancing and rules. Although this year will be different, we will still be able to enjoy the traditional delicacies that are baked around the island.

Traditional Easter treats

In many Mallorcan homes, families come together to cook and bake traditional Easter pastries. Panades are a simple savoury meat pie which is stuffed with lamb, chicken, fish or sobrasada. For those with a sweet tooth, there are crespells, shortbread biscuits with a pretty scalloped edge, and rubiols which are half-moon shaped parcels dusted with icing sugar and filled with strawberry or pumpkin jam or chocolate. You could even try to bake your own? If you prefer to buy readymade, these delicious Easter delights will be available in all good bakeries across the island.

Events

In the morning of Wednesday 31st of March, Palma Cathedral is opening its resplendent doors to provide a guided tour of the Gothic masterpiece known as La Seu. Discover more about how Easter is traditionally celebrated in the city and deepen your cultural understanding of the religious objects that are symbolically important in the Easter story. Book your tickets (5 € each) now. Tours are available in Spanish and Catalan. After the tour, you could enjoy a walk around the Old Town and perhaps you could pick up an Easter treat from one of the rustic local bakeries. If the weather is warm enough, you might even be able to paddle or swim in the sea!

We wish you a very happy and healthy Easter!