Preparing for the Sant Antoni Fiestas

The build-up to the Sant Antoni Fiestas (16 / 17 January) contains as much tradition as the fiestas themselves. The origins of the fiestas are firmly rooted in the town of Sa Pobla, which stages the grandest of the spectaculars on the eve of Sant Antoni, i.e. 16 January, this coming Saturday. Sa Pobla's preparations include the election of the "clamater" who utters the "clam" (the cry) of "Visca Sant Antoni" during the Completes service on the evening of the 16th. They will also involve the gathering of wood for the bonfires by the children of the town. This will be on Friday morning, with due ceremonial accompaniment by the band of cornets of the Sant Antoni Obreria (the organisation that oversees maintenance of Sant Antoni Church but also the actual traditions of Sant Antoni).