The festivity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Mallorca is consolidating and in 2023 it will bring together 76 churches that will display monuments of the dead Virgin Mary around the 15th of August. This figure is higher than last year, when there were a total of 67 all over Mallorca (17 in Palma and 50 in the rest of the island). Even so, it should be stressed that, given that the number of virgins in Mallorca is limited, the only aim is to exhibit as many as possible in the best possible conditions of conservation.

Palma presents 20 beds in 2023: it recovers the thalamus of La Concepció and Sant Jeroni, which had been interrupted by the pandemic and the closure of the convent, respectively. It should also be noted that the monument of Santa Magdalena, which was restored and taken out of closure in 2022, will be continued.

Festivity of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the island

As for the part forana, a total of 56 beds will be installed on the occasion of the feast of the Assumption in Mallorca. This increase has to do with the registration of the monuments made in Biniali, Maria de la Salut and the convent of Llucmajor. In addition, there are two new installations: Capdepera, which until now had not been set up, and Campanet, which is now overcoming an interruption of a few years. Beds are also being recovered, after decades, in the parish of Llucmajor, thanks to a restoration carried out last year.

For years, the Consell de Mallorca and the Bishopric of Mallorca have been working on researching, restoring and disseminating this celebration. The aim, according to the Consell de Mallorca’s director of Heritage, Ramon Martín, “is to spread the Mallorcan heritage in order to promote the recovery of the tradition of the beds of the Virgin Mary, after a long period of decline”.

To this end, explained Gabriel Carrió, coordinator of the project to disseminate the festival, “the evolution of the assemblies is recorded, conservation and restoration needs are detected, and research into the festival is encouraged”. Also collaborating in this dissemination plan are Palma City Hall, the Museum of Mallorca, Mallorca Cathedral, ARCA and the Friends of Heritage Foundation.