Wednesday, 17th July 2024
CALVIÀ CHOOSES THE NEW KINGS OF THE REI EN JAUME FESTIVITIES ON A MEMORABLE NIGHT
The festivities programme will take place from 28th August to 8th September in Santa Ponça
Members and sympathisers of the Christian and Saracen 'colles' (groups) of Calvià met last night at the Santa Ponça windmill to elect the kings of the festivities. Álex Baena, from the Colla Al-Murtadá, was selected as king Abu Yahyà, while Salvador Reynés, from the Colla Berenguer de Palou, was chosen as king Jaume I, after overcoming a series of fun tests. The candidates took the stage to talk about their motivations for being kings. Afterwards, they demonstrated their sword-wielding skills and answered a quiz on historical questions. The event presentation was carried out by the comedian Santi Liébana. The night began lively with a ball de bot (traditional dance) performance, which excited the 600 people from 17 'colles' gathered to meet the leaders of both sides. The event concluded with an outdoor dinner at the fairgrounds.
Rei En Jaume 2024 festivities programme
The bulk of the traditional and already consolidated programme, will take place from 28th August to 8th September in Santa Ponça, in commemoration of the 795th anniversary of the landing of king En Jaume. On Wednesday 28th, the exhibition of the selected painting and photography works for the Rei En Jaume 2024 awards will be inaugurated in the Exhibition Hall of Calvià Town Hall, although the awards ceremony will not take place until October.
As for the traditional events, the participation of about 1.400 people from the 11 Moorish 'colles' and 11 Christian 'colles' is expected. The historical recreation aspects have the advice of Bernat Carrot, a microbiologist passionate about the Middle Ages who helps in the designs, for instance, of the kings' clothing, swords and shields to faithfully reproduce history and the battle between the Moors and Christians. To design these costumes, Bernat Carrot relies on the Llibre dels Feits and other literature on medieval history, thus ensuring the most authentic recreation possible. Years ago, the kings' dresses were rented, but now they are the property of the Town Hall. King En Jaume's costume weighs around 10 kilograms, due to the metal parts it includes. The Rei En Jaume festivities not only celebrate a historical feat that took place almost eight centuries ago, but they also try to respectfully reproduce some details of the clothing so that the newly elected kings can wear them with the dignity they deserve.
The 795th anniversary of the landing of King En Jaume on the Santa Ponça Cross commemorative event has been scheduled for Thursday 29th August. Other actions that will be carried out are the gathering of Calvià giants in Plaza de la Pinada (pinewood square), the popular dance with Música Nostra, the banners hand out ceremony and presentation of the kings of the festivities, the medieval market, the Saracen parade, the landing and battle of the Moorish and Christian troops, or the solemn mass.
As for entertainment, there will be live music concerts and with DJ in Plaza de la Pinada, a night of fire with the Dimonis de Calvià, a night of comedy, cinema on the beach with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. In terms of sports, the Malgrats Islands Tour, the Balearic kayaking and paddle surfing Cup, a popular beach volleyball tournament, racquetball, Nordic walking or swimming across the Santa Ponça bay. A slingshot tournament will also be held this year, as a novelty. In addition, the programme offers children's activities, such as the "big-head" workshop and concerts specifically for the little ones. Music and fireworks, like every year, will put an end to the celebrations that bring together the municipality of Calvià.
