Festivities

The patron saint festivities, of which the horse is the undisputed protagonist, constitute the most genuine popular manifestation of Menorcan traditions. The first major festivities of the municipality are those of Es Mercadal, which are celebrated the third week of July under the adoration of its patron saint, San Martín. Although it is difficult to date the origin of these festivities, whose tradition dates back to the Middle Ages, it is known with certainty that they originally took place at the beginning of summer on the occasion of the feast of San Juan, after finishing the tasks of mowing and threshing in the fields. The festivities were formerly organized by religious brotherhoods, of which the members of the cavalcade were part, which are a reflection of the different strata of medieval Menorcan society. The procession is formed by a representative of the civil power, the caixer batle, invested with the symbolic mayor's staff; a representative of the ecclesiastical estate, the caixer capellà; and another of the farmers, the caixer pagès. They are accompanied by the caixer fadrí, chosen from among the youngest, who carries the festival flag, and a caixer casat. The festival develops according to protocols that serve to keep the celebration faithful to tradition, and which govern every last detail, from the order in which they are to be carried out to the attire of the members of the cavalcade. The horses go out adorned, with their manes carefully braided, and all kinds of ornaments and colored ribbons. The fabioler (the flutist), a young man mounted on a donkey, opens the way for the procession. Before the first sounds of the drum and flute, the crowd keeps a respectful silence to watch the cavalcade parade. Upon reaching the square, the horses jump and dance among the crowd to the rhythm of the music of the typical jaleo. This act, followed by a religious ceremony in honor of San Martín, takes place on the eve of the festival, during the afternoon, until late at night; and Sunday morning. Upon finishing, the riders, who are called caixers, are awarded a green reed for their mount and a silver teaspoon. The feast of San Antonio, which is governed by similar protocols, is celebrated a week later in an exceptional setting, the port of Fornells, where many young people throw themselves into the water before finishing the jaleo. The festivities celebrated in honor of San Nicolás are, on the other hand, the last ones celebrated during the Menorcan summer. That is why it is often said that "San Nicolás locks the festivities with a key." In this case, the "jaleo" is done on Saturday afternoon in the square of Es Mercadal, and on Sunday morning in El Toro, after the colorful climb of the procession, which is accompanied on foot by numerous Menorcans and visitors.