Festes de Sant Antoni Abat, Sa Pobla
Sa Pobla is, for many Mallorcans, the island's true capital of Sant Antoni — a devotion documented here since 1365 that every January turns this Pla town into the epicentre of the fiesta. It is a fixed-calendar celebration, held on the same two nights each year, and it is where the tradition burns brightest. The festival is built around fire. On the eve of 16 January (the revetla) bonfires — foguerons — are lit across the town and the correfoc sets off through the streets from around 20:45, led by Sa Pobla's masked dimonis (devils) dancing to drums. The night climaxes with a free pyromusical in the Plaça Major, at about 21:45, a show of fire, music and light dedicated to the dimonis who are the beating heart of the imagery here. The following day, 17 January — Sant Antoni's day — is gentler: as patron of animals, the saint is honoured with the beneïdes, the blessing of pets, horses and livestock paraded through town. Programme: Foguerons and correfoc on the night of 16 January (~20:45); dancing dimonis; the pyromusical in the Plaça Major (~21:45); gloses (improvised sung verse) to the rasp of the ximbomba friction drum around the fires; and espinagada — Sa Pobla's signature eel-or-pork-and-vegetable pie — sold in the street alongside sobrassada, botifarrons and coques amb pebres grilled over the flames. On 17 January, the animal beneïdes. Good to know: The dates are fixed every year (16–17 January). It is a free, open-street event with no ticket. The Plaça Major fills up early for the pyromusical, so come in good time. The spectacle uses real fire, pyrotechnics and loud sound — billed for all audiences, but mind very young children.
