The Manacor bullfights: emotion and tribute to Miguel Ángel

PalmSaint Anthony's Day unites faith and enthusiasm. Social class, economic status, and even age. The quintessential festival for those from outside the city needs no explanation. Aware of all its virtues, the celebration in Manacor has once again displayed the perfect blend of artistry in its critique and empathy for tragedy.

Artism in the hands of those who, throughout Thursday night and Friday morning, designed and erected up to a hundred bonfires throughout the town. And empathy for the family of Miguel Ángel Flórez, the young musician from the Municipal Band who lost his life yesterday while sleeping, when part of the floor of his house collapsed on him on Sant Francesc Street.

Throughout the day, neighbors and friends have been placing the typical colorful flowers of Sant Antoni on one of the fences that still enclose the perimeter of the facade, as a sign of respect and remembrance, following a spontaneous, community-led initiative that arose on social media. The same good taste was shown by the Patronato and the Colla de Demonios de Manacor, who today, like clockwork, set out from Cal Baciner to walk in fifteen minutes to the front of the old Manacor Town Hall in the Plaça del Convent.

There, the Demoni Gros (Toni Lluís Reyes) asked for silence from the approximately 5,000 young people who had already filled the space early in the morning. Two traditional songs from Santa Antonoa were sung without dancing or voices to sing the songs of the animal protector. This year, the President of the Balearic Government, Margalida Prohens, and the President of the Congress of Deputies, Francina Armengol, were present at the entrance, accompanying the Mayor of Manacor, Miquel Oliver, during these difficult hours. They were seen speaking at length, while the blinds of the Hall remained closed and the Manacor flag displayed a black ribbon as a sign of mourning.

After this, the three remaining dances took place. Despite the momentum, they were more subdued than in other years, reflecting a more subdued atmosphere, even though it was Friday and the weekend was just around the corner.

Picnics and bonfires

Families cycled through the streets, and visitors were invited for a snack by attentive locals. By 9:00 a.m., bars like El Porrón, Sa Volta, and El Mallorquín were already overflowing with customers accustomed to the "full" bread with olive oil, enough to last them before they finished arranging the bonfires, or before heading out to take photos of the day to post on social media. "For days now, if they want some herbs, I make the tables sing songs of Saint Anthony," says Nofre Galmés, from El Porrón.

At the Sant Vicenç de Paül school, a recreation of a carpentry workshop in Plaça de Camela and a nostalgic image of the old Teatro Principal in Manacor, made of papier-mâché and wood, were on display. This theater, inaugurated in 1922, was devoured by urban development and closed in 1969, solely to make way for parking lots, which still remain today as a symbol of heritage shame.

The Dimònia Apol·lònia and her demons danced this morning in Plaça de sa Torre. The members of the Anti-Patriarchal Assembly will perform at 6:30 p.m., departing from Espai Goya, the old neighborhood cinema which they will have to vacate on the 23rd of this month after failing to reach any three-way agreement with the owners and the Manacor City Council.

The Compline processions are exciting like few others.

Rarely has such emotion been felt during Compline and the Singing of the Gozos in Manacor. The 1,492 people fortunate enough to enter the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows in Manacor were able to enjoy a heartfelt performance, with a very special remembrance for Miguel Ángel Florez, a member of the Municipal Band who tragically lost his life this past Wednesday.

Antònia Bassa, spokesperson for the Band, had already requested a minute of silence during the performance at the municipal auditorium. Oh Quaqui, you've come looking thin!She was visibly moved again, as were all the attendees, the parish priest Antoni Amorós and the approximately 3,000 people who, despite being outside, enjoyed the Compline from the Palau square.

It is worth remembering that the Colcada, the traditional procession with the municipal band to the church, was done this year in silence, with the only noise being the cart and the applause of the neighbors as the donkey passed by.