Fiestas de Sant Joan
The most symbolic event of Menorca
No memory of the institution of these festivities of Sant Joan, however it seems that dates back to mid-fourteenth century, or at least its founders wanted to accommodate the customs of that century. This seems to justify the games that currently held in the afternoon of the party, on Paseo de San Juan, which are remnants of those jousts and tournaments so popular in those days.
The consensus is that the origin of our celebrations of Ciutadella is to be found in the Knights of St John of Malta, which came to Menorca with Don Alfonso III of Aragon was established at our island and founded the St. John Obrería Artrutx care of the church of San Juan, one of its members would become part of the workers as a representative of the nobility, and he would preside over the festivities and the ride that would be preceded by the flag with the Cross of the Order custom that has been perpetuated until today.
Las fiestas Sant Joan son hoy una fiesta eminentemente popular, la más popular sin duda de la Isla, que atrae a gran número de forasteros y que arrastra en pos de sí nuestro entusiasmo. Tres días abarcan lafiesta San Juan: el día “d’es be”, la vigilia y el día de San Juan.
El día “d’es be” se celebra siempre el domingo anterior a la fiesta. Reunida la junta de “caixers” en el palacio del Caixer Senyor a eso de las nueve de la mañana, éste entrega oficialmente la bandera al “Caixer Fadrí”, toca por primera vez el tamborcillo y se pone en marcha la comitiva que visita a las autoridades, propietarios y colonos invitándoles a las próximas fiestas. Les precede un hombre vestido con dos pieles, desnudos sus pies y brazos que van señalados con cruces encarnadas, con una especie de visera en la frente en la que va bordado un “Agnus Dei” y llevando a cuestas un cordero vivo y muy adornado. Les sigue el pregonero tocando el tamboril y el caramillo, el “Caixer Fadrí”, el “Caixer Menestral” y los “Caixers Pagesos” con dos bandejas de plata, y finalmente el “Caixer Senyor” y la “Capellana”.
A few days earlier, the family of "pages" to clean the animal is white and shiny in its day. On Saturday it down to the village. When lamb is watched all night, but not only the family of "pages" but also common people. The man carries on his shoulders, "s'homo d'es be", usually the son of Caixer pagès who has donated the lamb and also a son, but it is he who chooses it.
On the afternoon of June 23 (eve of St. John) is starring the "caragols" in the Borne and the streets of the Conqueror, Quadrado and Santa Clara. They consist of three turns that give the horses in a given site.
Formerly the "caragol del Borne" was nothing more than a simple greeting for leave to be made to Mr. Governor before undertaking the pilgrimage to the church of Sant Joan.
Sant Joan in Ciutadella, and chaired by the church steward, solemn sung Compline ancient custom observed by all Obrería and guilds, to extinction, on the eve of their patrons.
In return, the ride goes to the streets of José María Quadrado, in the enclosed area being the sacristy of the Cathedral and the mouth of the Santa Clara Street.
The Santa Clara caragol was intended to go to greet those religious situated in the convent of Poor Clares, sisters and relatives of the "Caixer Senyor. Today things have changed much, the nuns did not witness any act and the party and the caragol are endless. In those houses meets young people between flirting and laughter, riders are invited to enter the horses in homes run by the girls who cheer amid a shower of hazelnuts.
At 9 pm, with a peal of bells announced the traditional bonfires.
The morning in San Juan starts just the day dawns and you can hear the sound of the tambourine and fabiol through the streets of Ciutadella and rallying the party announcing the Parade again. The gathering will begin at eight am and nine completed the "Qualcada" in one or two laps in Santa Clara and horses and riders down to the "Pla" by the "Bastion de sa Font" and there make a snail three laps.
Caragol finished, the Caixers Senyor and Capellana dismantled and often turn to one of the plots in the Pla, "the Pla horts, there see the games," Pla d'es. The games "Pla d'es" is one of the most famous images of the party and it's exciting to see how the horse starts to gallop straight rowed toward "Ensortilla" Over the knights embraced or breakage of the "Carota" ... all forms of morning and afternoon games in Pla.
Menorca: On Menorca » Popular festivities » Fiestas de Sant Joan
