Festivities of Sant Martí de Es Mercadal

In the town of Es Mercadal, in the centre of Menorca, the festivities of Sant Martí are celebrated on the third weekend in July. Horses are the main feature of these celebrations. On Saturday, the horses are decked out with brightly coloured ribbons and plaited manes. The traditional protocols are followed to a T at the Menorca horse festivities, where the main social classes of the traditional society of centuries gone by are still represented.

At Es Mercadal the musician in charge of playing the flabiol music (the fabioler) leads the committee riding a donkey. He is followed by the caixer batle (representative of civil society), the caixer capellà (representative of the Church) and then the representatives of the peasant farmers, of the married people and of the singles. The standard bearer brings up the rear, and is known as the sobreposat (the bachelor). The locals keep a respectful silence while the initial flabiol music is playing. This is a stark contrast to the enthusiasm shown during the jaleo. You will be able to join the crowd, petting the horses and helping them perform their pirouettes.

When Sant Martí rolls around summer is in full swing, therefore the Es Mercadal festivities are one of the most popular celebrations. This would be a great time to discover the town, its charming old quarter and other attractions such as the Sant Martí church, the flour mill, the Kane water deposit or the renowned Roca de s’Indi.

The festivities end on Sunday, when the group of riders (la Colcada) is offered a reception at the Town Hall. The younger riders go from house to house giving out little bottles of aigua-ros (rose petal distillate), a typical tradition during Menorca patron saint festivities.