Mother of God of the Angels, help us!

Lluís Escandell will be practising his lines.

Elected to take the role of the Pollensa hero, Joan Mas, his is the speaking role that signals the start of the clash between the Moors (led by Mateu Cànaves as Dragut) and Christians - “Mare de Déu dels Àngels, assistiu-nos.” “Mother of God of the Angels, help us.” The pirates will have arrived, as they did on the night of May 30 to 31 in 1550. It might look like complete and utter chaos, and up to a point it is. How can it be anything but when it can appear as if the whole of Pollensa is taking part in what are pretty cramped conditions. But there is obviously a good deal of stage management, especially the prelude to the Mas-Dragut encounter and the immortal words.

Once uttered, all hell breaks loose, as the Christians charge and are met with a swarm of Moors. It’s remarkable that there are rarely any injuries. August 2 in Pollensa is full-on from the playing of the Alborada at 5am until the fireworks at 11pm. The Moors and Christians re-enactment is astonishing; the whole day is astonishing.