The Dance of the Eagles and Saint John Pelós: A Mallorcan Religious Folklore Mystery

Abstract

The Dance of the Eagles and Saint John Pelós is a key manifestation of Mallorcan cultural heritage that has survived to the present day despite ecclesiastical censorship and prohibitions imposed by civil authorities. The inhabitants of Pollensa participate in this communal act, rooted in religious tradition, as part of the solemnity of Corpus Christi. This research delves into its historical evolution to contribute to an understanding of its continuity, its relationship with institutions, its social function, and its anthropological significance. Originally serving an educational purpose, this complex theatrical performance has shifted towards becoming a rite of solidarity, serving to maintain group cohesion and reproduction. As a consequence of successive disputes over thought and behavior control, as well as changes in the economic and political structure of the community, the material content of the ceremony will undergo different phases of transformation, culminating in its present-day function as a symbol of local identity through the reproduction of an ancestral tradition.