TRADITIONS AND FIESTAS MENORCA

The cycle of popular fiestas held in each town starts in Ciutadella, with the celebration of Sant Joan. The horse is the central figure in the festivities: tens of thousands of people surround these notable animals, shouting and clapping to encourage them, while dancing to a rhythimic beat which is characteristic of these days.
The fiesta of Sant Joan is the most representative of the island’s celebrations, as much for its antiquity as for it power of attraction. It is difficult to date the beginning of this tradition, although it certainly started before the Middle Ages. The “caixers” (riders) play a central role, and not everyone can go to the fiestas on horseback: there is a strict protocol which must be observed in order that the fiestas retain their meaning.
Fiestas and the summer are very closely interlinked as, following the Sant Joan fiestas, the celebrations in other municipal districts and towns follow on until the fiestas of Maó, at the beginning of September. Each place has its own peculiarities, which can be noted if the visitor observer, although the horse continues in its central role in the fiesta.

Minorca’s fiestas are the most popular in the Balearic islands and their power of attraction increases with the passage of time. The majority of people usually congregate in the main square although during the days of fiesta the whole town will be decked out to welcome all the visitors who wish to share in these monuments of happiness.

The patron saint fiesta of the island takes place on January 17th and is known as “Sant Antoni”. On this day, the arrival of troops from the Catalan – Aragonese king, Alfonso III the liberal in 1287 is remembered. From this date, the island was incorporated into the kingdom of Aragon, after having been under Muslim domination for nearly 400 years.