Carnival / Sa Rua 2017 on Mallorca

Dijous gras/Dijous Llardes/Sa Rua is here, a time of sweets and celebration all around Mallorca. Carnival, is for all to enjoy and celebrate, and is known to be a children-friendly celebration.
On Mallorca, this Catholic tradition goes back more than 300 years. Back then, this was a time of losing all norms and behavioral guidelines for the people. The Carnival, allowed for people to drink and eat and indulge in sexual desires. This is how the dressing up tradition was born. People wore masks and costumes to have a new identity during this week of the Carnival.
This is the first celebration of the summertime, and it marks the transition from the dark time to the light time.
The food traditionally eaten in the run-up to Lent is the ensaïmada “de tallades” (covered with sobrassada and candied pumpkin) and the “casserole of the last days”. The burial of the sardine marks the end of the festival and the beginning of Lent. It is traditional on this day to roast sardines. Also, the Catalan Bunyols, are eaten here.
Carnival on Mallorca, is celebrated by dancing and music performances in the streets, cross-dressing of course and traditional Mallorcan fire runs and fireworks.
The carnival parades typically starts around 6-7 o’clock pm (18:00-19:00).

Town and villages that celebrates Carnival on Mallorca:

Algaida: February 18th – 25th
Andratx: February 25
Arta: February 23
Cala Ratjada: February 24
Campanet: February 23
Capdepera: February 25
Palma: February 20th – 24th
Pina: February 26
Porreres: February 23
Sant Joan: Last Saturday of the Carnival
Santa Maria del Cami: February 23rd