That from primary school onwards, children feel a sense of belonging to San Antonio, regardless of where they are from.

ManacorIn the mid-1980s, the Sant Antoni festival in Manacor was going through a period of uncertainty. The tradition was seen as a ritual deeply rooted in the peasantry but, at the same time, distant from the youth, who didn't find the connection they have now, 40 years later. The group of devils visited every school, every playground in the town, in search of new members for a shared future, in order to ensure a generational handover that was proving difficult.

Behind the Big Devil, a group of fifteen or twenty people. Not a single sweatshirt. Only the bonfires maintained a certain appeal for children and families, who drove around on the afternoon of January 16th to see them lit... and burned until they were practically toasted.

It was at this point that the educational communities and family associations decided to do something to help spread a friendly, simple, understandable, and festive image. Thus, separately, many began to work together. First in art class, then in history. A one-sided 'war' for survival that lasted through the 90s.

But shortly before the turn of the century, the City Council and the school community began working together to create a foundation that included activities and tools for learning to love the Santa Antonian festival from primary school onwards. This ingenious idea, now expanded, has served other equally important milestones, such as helping to integrate newly arrived students into a shared space: the celebration.

The liveliest part

"At school, we focus primarily on the most vibrant aspects of Sant Antoni: the traditional verses, the devils, the tambourines, the songs, and the meaning of the festival as a local tradition," explains Francisca Aguiló, principal of CEIP Jaume Vidal in Manacor. "We place great emphasis on ensuring that the children understand the roots and values of community life, as well as the identity behind the festival, so that they feel it belongs to them, regardless of where they are from."

"For over 25 years, as municipal educational services, we've supported schools in a shared way. Many of them were already working on some aspects independently. Our first thought was to take the activities outdoors and encourage all children to participate equally," recalls the municipal technician. "To integrate the children, we've always avoided any religious connotations the festival might have. We present Saint Anthony as the protector of animals," she comments when asked if the minimally Christian character that Saint Anthony still maintains distances the Maghrebi community, which is widely present in Manacor's population, from the community's feelings. "We also suggest that he's a person full of temptations, the same ones students face when they want ice cream instead of fruit, when they don't feel like doing their homework, or when they want to play video games for too long... and in the end, they win," she explains. "These aren't just optional activities; they're integrated into the whole Maghrebi community." And she adds: "The goal is to raise awareness of the festival and encourage participation to maintain and preserve it. We started with three masks: one of Saint Anthony, one of the Little Demon, and one of the Big Demon, which had the festival program printed on the back. Theatrical activities included a reenactment of Saint Anthony's presence: who he was, why he is venerated."

Chaima Benyagoub, originally from Taourirt (Morocco), arrived as a child and attended the CEIP Simó Ballester school: "I started school here and have always felt a strong connection to the festival, even though it was never celebrated at home, largely due to ideological and religious reasons." "Since I was little, I grew up knowing that when January arrived, these were activities we would do in the classroom naturally, without giving it much importance. It's true that San Antonio is very much a part of Manacor, and people celebrate it intensely," she confesses. "I remember the devils coming to dance, and in 6th grade, I dressed up as a devil for the younger children. It was a big deal for everyone. I'm not a huge San Antonio fan, but I do like to go around the bonfires, for example."

Nowadays, certain schools in Manacor, such as the Mossèn Alcover and Simó Ballester high schools, already have designated bonfires where only halal meat is roasted. Although initiatives like this come from the school administrations themselves.

Knowing one's own language and culture

The municipal councilor for Education, Carme Gomila, emphasizes that the Manacor City Council has recognized the importance of structuring educational activities for over 25 years, making Sant Antoni a culturally unifying element. "Over the years, we have adapted through collaborative teamwork to ensure that schoolchildren are thoroughly familiar with the festival and feel a sense of ownership," she explains. "We offer various workshops tailored to different educational levels, especially in primary school, but also in secondary school, where we have worked extensively with Sant Antoni-related verses. We ensure that all students experience the festival firsthand, creating inclusive spaces where families get involved, which indirectly contributes to cultural awareness," Gomila adds. According to Fátima El Mekkioui, a former student of Jaume Vidal, "School is essential for introducing and explaining the Sant Antoni festival to children unfamiliar with Mallorcan culture." In this way, we also create a sense of belonging and excitement for their festivities. You learn about them, paint masks, learn traditional verses, and integrate into the community. Being with friends, the meeting points around the bonfires….”

“I find it fundamental,” says Bruna Silva, who arrived from Brazil as a child and is now a 19-year-old student, “since it helps everyone feel included, even if they aren’t from the island like me. I clearly see how San Antonio unites people of all ages and how it generates a very strong sense of community.” "Demons with friends, toasting together... I think it's wonderful that everyone is out in the streets doing the same thing and sharing the moment as a community."

In each school in the municipality, a bonfire is lit, and each class writes a verse to hang on it. "We also paint faces, make decorations for the school facade, and participate in activities offered by the Town Hall, which throughout the year provides educational programs to explore the theme: from verse workshops to Saint Anthony's attire," says Antònia Fullana, a teacher from Manacor, convinced of the sense of identity it fosters.

In class, the vocabulary of the festival and traditions is explored, giving a unified meaning to a discourse that, in this way, functions as an integrating tool toward a common theme... and in Catalan. "Viewing images of Saint Anthony. Singing verses." "Coloring in devil faces and doing art projects related to the festival," adds Margalida Vives, also a teacher at the Jaume Vidal school in Manacor.

In the classroom, we work on both the biographical figure of Saint Anthony and his importance as a protector in the traditional Mallorcan peasant society. The other characters involved in the festival are also discussed: the gang of devils, the chamber pot, the musicians... "The events that take place during the festivities are shown (rehearsal of the Gozos in the Plaça de la Concordia, the first dance of the devils, the departure of the chamber pot, the dance at the Town Hall, the bonfire competition... experiencing the festival in a respectful and responsible way. We place great emphasis on the tradition of glosadora (improvisational verse). We work on structure and rhyme, but above all, it is presented as a form of expression of our culture," explains Xisca Obrador, a 5th-grade teacher. Maria Antònia Taberner recalls that the municipal education department (which this year received recognition from the Sant Antoni Board for its continued work) organizes specific activities according to age. 'Suena suena San Antonio' (Sounds, Sounds, Saint Anthony) is for the youngest children in preschool. In second grade, they work on 'Un vestido nuevo por Sant Antoni' (A New Dress for Saint Anthony), about the figures of the festival. In fourth grade... Primary school students participate in the 'Ara va de gloses' (Now it's time for gloses), featuring the Glosadores de Mallorca (Glossers of Mallorca), which culminates in a mini-glossing battle. Behind the devil mask is a scene from the festival or a significant location (this year it's the Benditas). "It's a popular festival where everyone comes together, with cultural diversity. Next year we'll bring back the school bonfire that we used to set up every year in the Plaça de la Bassa, made by the sixth-grade students from all the schools in the municipality," he concludes.