Dragons and demons run amok as Palma parties

Mallorca’s biggest festival came to a fiery climax as thousands of partygoers lined the streets of Palma to celebrate the Revelta San Sebastia. 

Bracing the brutal cold in the hopes of being toasted by the monstrous Drac de na Coca dragon, Mallorcans turned out in massive numbers in carefree defiance of recent terrorist warnings. 

Eight squares across the capital were packed with revellers rejoicing amid the flames of dozens of bonfires and hundreds of barbecues. 

Giants, bagpipers and drummers were to be seen as the festival recalled the Celtic roots of ancient Iberia as modern jazz and rock deafened the night sky. 

 Well over 40,000 people descended upon the squares on January 19 alone to witness the key attraction of Palma’s legendary dragon breathing fire upon the Plaza Major at the pinnacle of the event. 

The celebrations are by no means over and will last until January 23 with exhibitions, music and parades culminating in the unmissable Correfoc fire run on Saturday. 

The annual event has excelled itself in recent years and its success represents an incredible coup for the local government who have seen record numbers of tourists flock to the Balearics in 2015 to embrace a vibrant cultural scene. Municipalities across the island have been quick to take advantage of Palma’s January drawing power with Inca organising special shuttles to the capital. 

Citizen participation has been the political buzzword in recent years as the festival of Palma’s patron saint has been brought back to the people.