Palma unveils its Chirstmas traditions

Palma puts on its best clothes to welcome Christmas and its visitors. The Balearic capital shares traditions with a large part of the country, but it also has its own unique events like the Fiesta del Estandarte (Festival of the Banner) or the Canto de la Sibila (Song of the Sybil). And Christmastime is further enhanced by the city’s monumentality, embellished by lights and decorations, and a great commercial panorama, ideal for anyone who wants to take advantage of the visit to buy their Christmas presents.

The Song of the Sybil, a liturgical drama that is sung during the Midnight Mass, has formed part of the Christian tradition for many centuries. In spite of the great dissemination it attained during the Middle Ages around the south of Europe, nowadays it can only be heard in very specific places, among them the Cathedral of Palma. Its importance is such that in 2010 it was included in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage as ‘The Song of the Sybil of Mallorca.’

Another tradition of medieval origin that remains alive in the Balearic capital is the Fiesta del Estandarte. This celebration, which takes place every 31st of December, re-enacts the recapture of the city during the conquest of Mallorca by King Jaime I of Aragon in the 13th century.