The Sybil, the Angel and the Sermon

Christmas Eve is a celebration in Mallorca which is extra special because of the declaration made in 2010, when the Cant de la Sibil·la, Song of the Sybil, was declared a Unesco masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of humanity.

The roots go back further than the thirteenth century, but it was in that century that the chant became part of the liturgy in Mallorca. The Sibil·la is one element of the Matins services held in churches across the island. One of these, the Cant de l’Àngel (Song of the Angel), is relatively recent; it originated at Lluc Monastery in the late nineteenth century. Sermó de la Calenda (Sermon of the Calendar) is believed to have originated at Palma Cathedral in the sixteenth century. A boy announces the birth of the Son of God and invites the faithful to celebrate and share the joy of the birth.

The text of sermon can vary; parishes are free to have their own interpretations.