Ara Balears in English - Passover

'Do not touch me'

Joan Mesquida — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:31:11 +0000

“Do not hold me” is the request that Jesus of Nazareth makes to Mary Magdalene, which we can read at the end of the Gospel according to John. It is one of the most captivating and mysterious moments in the entire Bible. Two days after Jesus’ crucifixion, the news of the empty tomb spreads as much among his followers as among his executioners. The death of the Galilean preacher has been extremely cruel. The cross was a Roman torture device meant for enemies of the Empire and a curse for a Jew, to die exposed like a wild beast. The account of Jesus’ Passion is of extreme violence exercised from the most ingrained masculinity. The betrayal of Jesus, the reaction of the followers with the sword, the trial, the mockery and torture, gambling for the tunic with dice... all of it paints a ruthless world in which women are silent witnesses.

El Pla de Mallorca extends Easter festivities with the celebration of Pancaritats

J.Socies / J.M.Sastre — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:59:02 +0000

This Tuesday, the heart of Mallorca beats with a singular force. The Pla de Mallorca awakens for its great third Easter festival, a day when time seems to stand still to allow tradition and fellowship to prevail over the work routine that already reigns throughout the archipelago. And it is that this Easter Tuesday, the roads and paths that wind towards the most emblematic peaks or hermitages of the region are once again filled with families laden with 'senalletes' (small baskets) or backpacks where the last jewels of homemade and traditional Easter confectionery still remain.

The Mallorca Plan extends the Easter holidays with the celebration of the pancaritats

J.Socies / J.M.Sastre — Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:55:58 +0000

This Tuesday, the heart of Mallorca beats with singular force. The Pla de Mallorca awakens for its great third Easter festival, a day when time seems to stand still to allow tradition and fellowship to prevail over the work routine that already reigns throughout the Archipelago. Indeed, this Easter Tuesday, the roads and paths that wind towards the most emblematic peaks or hermitages of the region are once again filled with families laden with baskets or backpacks still holding the last jewels of homemade and traditional Easter pastries.

I needed to feel something and I went to an Easter procession

Alba Tarragó — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 14:59:18 +0000

I am fascinated by symbols: minimal units of communication, which mean very specific things with very few resources. Language concentrates in them, acidic, explosive. My senses react to them like taste buds to monosodium glutamate. Pure stimulus. They are a mystery and our collective imaginary, the ultraviolet light that allows us to decipher them. Recognizing their meaning is addictive because it speaks to me of myself, reminds me of things I didn't know I knew and that help me interpret the world.

Containment and ballast

Caterina Gelabert — Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:49:38 +0000

The streets awaited the passage in silence while the songs were still heard in the distance in a dull murmur. The procession passed, the mournful songs of the mourners chilled our blood with their sadness. They spoke of death and forgiveness, of promised paradises that fled, winding with the jingle of the chain of a penitent and anonymous Christ. We knew nothing of all that, of the grief, we were children and our paradise was a pocket full of sweets.