Top 4 Tips to Enjoy a Fiesta in Menorca

Menorca’s fiestas are both fun to be a part of and thrilling to watch, and if you happen to have rented one of the Spanish villas nearby all the fun will be within a short distance. However, if you do get to go out and mingle with the revelling crowd, here are four important things to keep in mind.

Be Alert and Aware of Everything Around You

Fiestas in Menorca can be very exciting, especially when the action happens within such a close proximity to the Spanish villas you’re staying in. But fiestas can also be quite rowdy, and if you're not prepared you may get a shock! But as long as you pay mind and are respectful, fun will be had by one and all. Keep in mind there are usually no barricades to designate the path of the parade, or any formal schedule of events—one moment you’re standing in the middle of a quiet street, the next a parade of men on horseback is heading toward you, and fast! Fiestas in Menorca, especially those during the summer, usually involve the local favourite anima—the horse. Because of this, it is safest to keep your distance and not forget your surroundings.

Wear Appropriate Clothing and Gear

Keep in mind that most fiestas in Menorca are basically dress-down occasions, so as much as possible, try to dress comfortably but sensibly. This means wearing hats and applying sunscreen, as well as loose clothing and flat shoes.

Not All Fiestas Are For Everyone

The idea of community-wide traditional celebrations in a place like Menorca is that everyone should feel free to partake in the fun. The understanding, then, is that people of all ages and cultures can enjoy these festivals. However, the nature of certain fiestas is such that they tend to cater to the younger set, while there are aspects of other fiestas that are suitable for families with young children or elderly members. Horse parades (as mentioned above) tend to become rowdy and may be overwhelming for very young children. In those cases, it is perhaps better to stay in the comfort of your Spanish villas rather than get down in the thick of the action. As a general rule of thumb, activities scheduled in the morning are often family oriented, and therefore safe for children and the elderly, whereas activities scheduled in the afternoon are for the younger, more adventurous set.

Respect the Locals

The fiestas are the tradition of the island locals, and one they deeply cherish. Although they are more than happy to share their delight with foreigners, you should never forget your manners. If you’re staying in one of the Spanish villas and a local invites you to their home, then by all means join in with them. However, while the homes of the locals are ‘open’ during a parade, they are not really open as the word suggests—you cannot just walk into a house and go upstairs to the balcony just to get the view. Respect their private space and, if you’re lucky enough to get an invitation, only then can you do so. The bottom line is to treat everyone's home as you would want your own to be respected.

Brenda Jaaback is the Managing Director of Bartle Holidays. They can provide you with a wide selection of great Spanish villas for your holidays on Menorca. Bartle Holidays makes no warranty as to the accuracy of information contained in this article and excludes any liability of any kind for the information.

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