OCTOBER

FIRA D'ALCÚDIA AND FESTA DES BUTIFARRÓ On the first weekend in October, Alcúdia holds its Fira: the agricultural, art and craft, and trade fair of the town and the surrounding area. On the Saturday of the fair, the "Estol del Rei En Jaume" takes to the streets; this is a group of carnival figures representing characters from Majorcan history and tradition. In the evening there is a concert. In Sant Joan the fiesta of the Butifarró (a type of sausage) is held on the same day

20/ REVETLLA DE LES VERGES (THE VIRGINS) The feast day of Santa Úrsula and the 11.000 virgins. In every town and village in Majorca, maidens are serenaded. It is customary to offer the singers buñuelos (the local variety of profiteroles) and muscatel wine.

NOVEMBER

Dijous Bo is Inca's best-known fair

THIRD THURSDAY / DIJOS BO EN INCA On the third Thursday of November, after the fiesta of Santa María la Mayor, Inca holds Dijous Bo, one of the biggest fairs in Majorca, with large numbers of people taking part: there are literary and livestock competitions, musical recitals and sporting events. It is said that on this day Inca is the capital of Majorca.

DECEMBER

FIRST SUNDAY / FIRA DE SA PERDIU IN MONTUÏRI The fair is very complete and there are always large numbers of visitors: there are products from Montuïri on show, and all types of livestock, as well as the traditional competition of hunting of partridge with decoys.

Traditionally the Nativities are uncovered on Christmas. In Palma there are antique Nativities that can be visited during these holidays

24 / MAITINES (LA MISA DEL GALLO) It is traditional in Majorca for the whole family to go to the Misa del Gallo (Midnight Mass). The focal point of the service, and the most cultural, is the singing of the Sibil·la, (Sybil), a prophetic song, whose origins date back to the Middle Ages. When the Holy Office ends, and before the Mass begins, a boy (in recent years girls also sing the Sibil·la) of about twelve years of age, wearing a woman's dress and holding a sword with both hands, goes up to the pulpit. Midnight mass is held and the Sibil·la is sung in many churches, sanctuaries and hermitages in Majorca, but if one had to single out any for special mention perhaps they would be the services in the Sanctuary of Lluc, where the Blauets choir take part, and in Palma Cathedral.

25/ CHRISTMAS (NADAL) It is the custom in Majorca for the whole family to have lunch together and sit around the table for a long time after finishing the meal. The children recite poems. Turkey could be said to be the traditional Christmas dish.

26/ SANT ESTEVE / BOXING DAY (THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS) In Catalonia and Majorca, Boxing Day, the second day of Christmas, St Stephen's (Sant Esteve) day is celebrated. St. Esteve was the first Christian martyr. It is the custom to have lunch with family or friends and to dawdle around the table eating turrón.

31/ FESTA DE L'ESTENDARD Palma commemorates the entry of King Jaume I's troops into the city in 1229. The Mayor and the councillors set the Royal Standard up in Plaza Cort and a Mass is held. Cavallets and cossiers go in procession with the authorities to the Cathedral.