On Saturday, January 11, the fiestas
for Sant Antoni, Patron Saint of Menorca, will start in Ciutadella. Amongst
other activities, this first day, at 5 p.m. there will be a street parade
by the Sant Antoni and Els Dimonis from Alcúdia (Mallorca), and
a group of Xeremies from the square of the Cathedral to the square of Ses
Palmeres. At 10 p.m. in the theatre Casino 17 de Gener, there will be the
traditional dance "Ball des garballó" with music by Duo Calypso.
The day after, Sunday 12th, there will be the race "XIII milla urbana"
and at 6 p.m. in the theatre Casino 17 de Gener, the "II Festa folklòrica
menorquina" will take place, with performances by the folk groups Es Penell
from de Ferreries, Sant Isidre from Ciutadella and S'Escola de Ball de
Sant Lluís, and the participation of all the folk groups from Menorca.
The programme will continue on Thursday 16, with the institutional event
at the Town Council, including speeches by the Major Pau Lluís Mesquida
and the historian Joan Pons Alzina, and the prize giving of the "XVII premi
d'investigació cultural Francesc de Borja Moll"
On Friday, January 17 –Sant Antoni's day and also "Diada del Poble de
Menorca"– the events will start at 11 a.m. with the celebration of the
Mass at the Cathedral, followed by the traditional procession of "Els Tres
Tocs", a very ancient celebration that commemorates the Menorcan conquer
by King Anfós, in 1287. The procession is headed by three representatives
of the City Council, the Bishop and the clergy, starting at the Cathedral
and going via the Roser until the ancient Portal d'Artrutx.
The celebrations of the Sant Antoni's day will continue at midday, with
a solidarity market at the Centre d'Artesania Molí des Comte and
another market in the Plaça de Sant Antoni selling oranges, dates
and "garballons" with music by the Agrupació Musical. Finally, at
10 p.m., in the Teatre Municipal des Born, there will be the play "Erma"
bu Federico Garcia Lorca, staged by the theatre company J. Delfín
Serra. The play will also be on Saturday 18 at 10 p.m. and on Sunday 19
at 7 p.m.
On Sunday 19, the last day of the fiestas, at 10.30 p.m. there will
be an equestrian show in the Caragolí of the Club Hípic Ciutadella
and at as from 7 p.m., in the theatre Casino 17 de Gener, there will be
a dance with music by Caty Cris.
More information:
Ajuntament de
Ciutadella de Menorca