The ascent of the pine tree to Pollença in a Sant Antoni marked by the spilling of the trunk and the water

PollençaThe Pollença pine tree has finally been raised, despite a day marked by rain and the trunk spilling during its transport. Seventeen-year-old Joan Rebassa accomplished this feat around 9:50 p.m. in a packed and emotional Plaça Vella, after such an intense and unexpected day. With the pine tree finally in place, Pollença has brought the Sant Antoni festivities to a close, in a year that will be etched in the collective memory.

The day began at 9:30 a.m. with the service for Saint Anthony at the Parish Church of Our Lady of the Angels. At 10:00 a.m., the traditional raising of the pine tree and the blessing of the animals once again filled the town's streets before the spotlight shifted to the pine tree, with a prominent presence of dogs and horses, but also rabbits and even a hamster or two. At 11:30 a.m., from La Almoina, the entire town of Pollença set off for Ternelles to retrieve the pine tree, accompanied by the Xeremiers Orats and the Xeremiers de la Font del Gall. Amidst traditional songs, chants, and herbal incense, entire families, young people, the elderly, and groups of friends shared the journey, reinforcing that sense of community that makes the pine tree much more than just a festive event.

In Ternelles, the atmosphere was optimistic despite the forecast. Around 1:00 PM, it rained briefly, but this didn't dampen the community lunch or the general mood. The pine tree, which at that time was about 22 meters tall, left Ternelles at 2:00 PM heading towards the town, beginning a long and demanding journey.

The weather, however, ended up dictating the outcome of the procession. From 5:00 PM onwards, it began to rain heavily, and although the intensity decreased later, the rain continued to fall for much of the evening, making an already complex journey even more difficult. Despite the persistent rain, Pollença continued to stretch the pine tree through the streets towards Plaça Vella, without stopping or paying any attention to the rain, faithful to a ritual that the town carries out no matter what.

The pine tree has arrived in Pollença, but its journey to the town center was eventful. Around 7:30 p.m., when the trunk was already in Plaça Vella, the first collapse occurred at the top: the branch, about two meters from the crown, hit a wall as people pushed. The incident caused moments of tension and uncertainty among those present.

About fifteen minutes later, the pine tree toppled again, this time about ten meters from the base, with a very loud noise that heightened the sense of alarm. Finally, about ten meters of the trunk remained upright, which forced a reorganization of the event.

However, the ritual was not broken. The pine tree was planted upright in the square, and, as night fell, the culminating moment arrived. After a day filled with difficulties, Joan Rebassa hoisted the tree trunk and brought it to the top, unleashing the pent-up emotion of a town that had experienced the day with all its heart.

With the pine tree finally in place, Pollença closed out Sant Antoni as only it knows how: with pride, with perseverance, and demonstrating that even when everything goes wrong, the town is capable of upholding the ritual. Because the pine tree is not just a tree trunk standing straight in a square, but a way of being and feeling that, year after year, remains alive.