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One of Mallorca’s most unusual festivals, in honour of St Anthony, the patron saint of pets. For two days in January in Sa Pobla, pets are led through the town to be blessed outside the church. Elsewhere, dancers drive out costumed devils, to ensure harmony during the coming year, and everyone circles bonfires and eats spicy pastries filled with spinach and marsh eels.

Setmana Santa (Holy Week) in the capital city is observed by a solemn procession of some 5,000 people parading an icon of the crucified Christ through the streets.

Many Mallorcan towns have processions during Holy Week. The Calvari steps in Pollença are the scene of a moving re-enactment, the Davallament (the Lowering) each Good Friday, when in total silence a figure of Christ is removed from a cross and carried down the steps by torchlight.

The blessing takes place at the Santuari de Nostra Senyora de Cura, near Algaida. It possibly dates from the time of Ramon Llull, who founded the original hermitage in the 13th century.

Port de Sóller is the venue for a mock battle between Christians and Moors, in commemoration of a skirmish in which Arabic corsairs were routed in 1561. Expect lots of rowdy, boozy fun, brandishing of swords and the firing of antique guns.

Participants dress up as eagles and perform the Ball dels Àquiles (“Dance of the Eagles”) in Pollença’s town square. What exactly this has to do with the miracle of Transubstantiation during Holy Communion is not really explained, thus scholars suspect the celebration’s origins are pre-Christian.

This celebration of the patron saint of seafarers and fishermen takes place in various coastal settlements. Boats are blessed, torches are lit (as at Port de Sóller), and sailors carry effigies of the Virgin.

St James is celebrated with the usual summer highjinks, including folk dancing, fireworks and parades, featuring an icon of the saint and various religious symbols.

Another, even longer battle between the Christians and the Moors, this time in Pollença. The town spends a whole year preparing for the event, in which hundreds of youths dress up.

Beginning in the town of Alaró, a pilgrimage celebrating Mary’s birth heads up the mountain to the hilltop shrine dedicated to the Virgin. The shrine is located near the Castell d’Alaró and has spectacular views.