Christmas 2014 in Palma

This last weekend the Christmas lights in Palma were switched on.  Trees have been swathed in white lights and canopies looking like spiders´ webs have been spun across the main promenades.  A beautiful spectacle. 

After the jump please read the December Events (courtesy of The Majorca Daily Bulletin)

Christmas Traditions and Celebrations in Mallorca

Christmas in Mallorca is celebrated in a traditional style, and is noticeably less commercial than many other places, retaining strong Mallorcan cultural ties and Catholic traditions. Christmas shopping is kept mainly in December, and there is an atmosphere of tradition and spirituality throughout the city of Palma, where you will find the most festive activities taking place. The festivities in Palma begin on December 8th, with 'The feast of the Immaculate Conception', a ceremony and performance of dance called los Seises.  Celebrations continue with various special days, until January 5th, Three Kings Night, celebrated all over Spain. In Palma, there is a spectacular scene as parades arrive by boat in the harbour.Christmas and Three Kings Fair in Palma. With markets at the Plaza Major, Ramblas, Via Roma, Plaza de la Porta Pintada and Plaza España. Opens from 10am to 9pm Monday to Sunday. Runs until 6 January 2014.

UK market gives Mallorca a winter boost with more flights

The Majorca Daily Bulletin has reported which airlines from the UK will operate to the island in winter:

Ryanair:  London Stansted 4 flights a week.
Easyjet: London Gatwick 7 flights a week. Southend 1 flight every 5 days. Stansted 1 flight every 5 days. Bristol 2 flights per week.  Liverpool 2 flights per week.  Glasgow 2 flights per week.
BA City Flyer:  London City 4 flights per week
Monarch:  Gatwick 4 flights per week.  Manchester no flights after 13 November.

Tourists flying from small regional airports though, are going to suffer during the winter season.

Fish counter at Mercat Olivar, Palma de Mallorca

A recent photo taken at the wet fish counter at the Mercat Olivar. This market is Palma's main produce market, and is held Monday to Saturday 7am to 2pm in a hall in the Plaza Olivar, which is near to the Placa d'Espanya. The market is spread over two floor of the hall with fresh produce on the ground floor, plus meat and cheese upstairs.

Spanish Galleon "La Pepa" in Palma

The Galleon "La Pepa" arrived into the port of Palma last week.  Built to commemorate the bicentennial of the first Spanish Constitution,  the ship called "Pepa" for having been enacted on the day of St. Joseph, March 19th 1812.

The galleon, a replica of the Spanish ships of the modern era, sailed from Cadiz in June 2011 to begin a tour of several cities in Spain. Now in Palma where you can visit every day between 10am and 6pm.  Inside you can visit an exhibition on Pepa, its historical importance and its influence on later constitutions.

After her visit to the Balearic capital, the ship will depart for Latin America to continue her tour and, in summer, back to Palma to attend the Balearic XVIV Classics Regatta, to be held between 15 and 18 August.

Christmas Weekend in Palma de Mallorca

La Nit del Born is a 3-day festive weekend to look forward to with a grand Christmas theme, uniting the whole of Palma. 

The Paseo del Born, Calle Unión, Jaime III and the Plaza Mercat will be converted into an exciting and festive pedestrian zone. All the shops will roll out their red carpets and the surrounding restaurants, bars and cafés will present their culinary Christmas treats joining in the 3-day festival to kick start the Christmas season. The Mayor of Palma, Mateo Isern, will be turning on the Christmas lights of the city at dusk on Thursday, November 29th, marking the opening of the celebrations.

On both Friday, November 30th, and Saturday, December 1st, Santa Clauses, bell in hand, will walk the streets and also distribute sweets and maps on bicycles. On Friday evening at 18.00 hrs there will be a Christmas charity concert in the Paseo del Born. On Saturday, December 1st, at 12.00 and 18.00 hrs the voices of carol singers will light up the streets of Palma. There will also be a moving band during the whole weekend playing both Christmas and urban music in the centre of Palma.

One of the highlights of this special event will be the Christmas forest built in style of the Northern European forests with real pine trees in the patio of Casal Solleric. This forest will also be the meeting point of the alpine-themed photocall. The centre point will be a huge Christmas tree that will be decorated by a Majorcan artist. The event also expects the attendance of famous guests whose names are still a well kept secret.

(Info courtesy of ABC magazine)