THE DANCE OF THE EAGLES AND SANT JOAN PELÓS

THE DANCE OF THE EAGLES AND SAN JUAN PELÓS IS A RITUALISTIC DANCE AND PART OF THE PROCESSION OF THE CORPUS CHRISTI, PERFORMED ONLY IN POLLENÇA AND THEREFORE BEING THE ONLY VILLAGE IN MALLORCA WHICH PRESERVES THIS TRADITION. IT CONSISTS OF TWO WOMEN INSIDE OF PAPIER-MÂCHÉ EAGLE’S COSTUMES, EMBELLISHED WITH JEWELS EXCLUSIVELY LENT FOR THE OCCASION. 

Some authors relate them to the weaver’s union of Pollença, but others attribute these figures a more civil and heraldic meaning, which would have the eagle from Barcelona as the biggest of the whole band, going through the ones who give them a strictly religious sense.
 
They are similar to the ‘Cavallets’ (small horses), but in this particular case there are two young women inside two eagles’ carton bodies, profusely embellished with jewels exclusively lent for the occasion. We should say that their today costumes are full of nineteen century reminiscences, although the music takes us to the medieval ages.
 
Saint Joan Pelós is a young man who dances in front of the eagles, with his face hidden under the Saint’s mask.