A visit to the most beautiful nativity scenes in Mallorca
Legend has it that Saint Francis of Assisi was the first to set up a nativity scene at Christmas mass. It was the year 1233, and the saint asked Pope Honorius III for permission to celebrate the Eucharist in a cave in Greccio, Italy, with stones representing the Holy Family, flanked by a live donkey and ox.
The same legend tells that at some point, the child came to life and began to cry, so that, after the scare, the miracle story spread throughout Italy, giving rise to the popular representation of nativity scenes.
Centuries later, Saint Cajetan created the first nativity scene as we know it today, with figures molded in terracotta and dressed in period clothing.
The most beautiful nativity scenes in Palma
It's the perfect time to discover the most beautiful nativity scenes in Palma and the settings in which they are placed.
One of the most important is the one at the town hall, which surprises every year with its originality and the great creativity that the Mallorca nativity scene association displays in its creations.
In the Santa Catalina market, you can also visit a beautiful nativity scene where the challenge is to find the monk. Some years it's easier to spot him, others it's more difficult, but in any case, and between shopping trips, stopping by to see this representation is a must during the season.
At the cultural center of La Misericordia, the Council of Mallorca also sets up a spectacular nativity scene that is visited and admired by many. And one of the scenes that attracts the most devout is the one placed in La Sang, one of the most famous points, also, during Holy Week.
Visiting nativity scenes in the Part Forana
In the towns and cities of Mallorca that are not the capital, it is also worth visiting the nativity scenes that the association prepares with great dedication. It is difficult to make a list of all the nativity scenes that are set up on the island, especially because in the Part Forana, the representations made by churches and parishes are mixed with those of local residents and individuals, who in some cases are famous and attract the attention of the entire town.
Tradition dictates that routes be made in all localities to visit the creations in private homes, which surprise every year with their quality and scope.
Routes in Alcudia, Sa Pobla, Inca, Pollença, Manacor, Son Servera, Campos, Santanyí, or Felanitx are especially famous, where nativity scene artists eagerly await the arrival of visitors each year and prepare meticulously to surprise them.
But nativity scenes are not the only protagonists. In almost every town, theatrical performances are held, Christmas trees are set up, and in many places, churches are adorned with "neulas," decorations made of cut paper that, despite the ephemeral nature of the material, in many cases are authentic works of art.
If, in addition to visiting the nativity scenes in Palma and the Part Forana, you feel like going on a hiking excursion, don't miss out on this post.
