The Consell de Mallorca has taken a decisive step in the protection of the island’s oral heritage by launching the process to declare the Rondalles mallorquines (Mallorcan traditional tales) as an Asset of Intangible Cultural Interest. This measure was agreed this Monday by the Consell Assessor de Patrimoni Cultural Immaterial, which has initiated the file drafted by writer and oral literature expert Caterina Valriu Llinàs.

Rondalles mallorquines

The island’s director of heritage, Maribel Arnau; writer and researcher, Caterina Valriu; vice-president of the Consell de Mallorca, Antònia Roca; and Antoni Mir. Photo: Consell de Mallorca.

This declaration aims to preserve and revalue one of the most representative elements of Mallorca’s narrative tradition. As noted by the vice-president of the Consell and head of Culture and Heritage, Antònia Roca, “the island institution has taken a decisive step to safeguard one of the most vibrant and beloved expressions of Mallorcan popular culture: the rondalles“. Roca also emphasised that “the rondalles are not just tales, but a shared treasure that is part of our island’s collective memory. Protecting them is an obligation we have as an institution and as a society”. This view was supported by the Consell Assessor, formed by historian Juan José Soler Martínez; Palma city chronicler Bartomeu Bestard Cladera; musicologist Eugènia Gallego Cañellas; fashion artisan and researcher Juana Maria Borràs Riera; and Caterina Valriu herself.

The historical, cultural and linguistic value of the Rondalles mallorquines

Valriu’s report highlights the historical, cultural and linguistic value of these stories, collected by figures such as Antoni M. Alcover and now adapted to contemporary formats like theatre performances, games or digital apps. The document also warns of threats to their continuity, such as the gradual loss of the island’s Catalan language, social changes and their frequent relegation to the realm of childhood.

In order to promote knowledge and transmission of these tales, especially among younger generations, the Consell has planned a 2025 activities programme focused on the rondalles. A key event will be the International Museum Day, on 18 May, featuring workshops, performances and activities for all audiences.

Moreover, in collaboration with Editorial Moll, a series of initiatives will take place throughout the year to bring this intangible cultural heritage closer to the public and ensure its continued presence in the Mallorcan collective imagination.