Fiestas of the Patron Saint of Pollença: Moors and Christians

As from July 26 in Pollença there will be the festivities in honour of their patron saint, a civic-relgious celebration that dates from the first years of the Catalan conquest.

The central event of the festivities is the Mock Battle between Moors and Christians, to commemorate the battle by the people of Pollença against 1,500 Moors led by the pirate Dragut, that took place on May 30 in 1550. Pollença received on that day the most important pirate attack they had ever experienced. The battle was won thanks to the help from Joan Mas, who went out in the main street, warned everyone of the danger and ran heroically into battle against his adversaries.
The mock battle was incorporated into the fiesta programme in the middle of the XIX century to recreate a historical fact that is very much in the memory of the people of Pollença. This created a very colourful and lively celebration that counts on the participation of practically the whole town, the Christians dressed in white and Dragut's followers in multicolours.

The celebration is announced at 5 a.m. on August 2, after the dance, when the band plays the "Alborada". All the town waits impatiently for this special moment. This year the dance will feature performances by the music bands Orquesta Malpaso, Lolos Band and Saleta del Poble sec (Plaça Major); Tijuana en Bluc, Wild Horses Blues Band and Grup Sonor (Plaça de Ca les Monnares) and Capicua, Jazz Mediterrani and Miquel Pericàs Big Band (Plaça des Seglars).

Throughout the day are held the Mass and the Oferta dels Cossiers (11 a.m.), the procession and the Mock Battle (7 p.m.). Once the battle is over, at about 9 p.m. all the Christians go to the church to sing the te-Deum and the hymn to the "mother of God of the Angels". Afterwards on leaving the church, the band plays the "Alborada" again and the fiesta finishes by singing the "Visca Pollença" followed by a great firework display.

Photos © Toni Salas

Datum: 23/07/2003

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