Once again this Christmas, as tradition dictates, the Consell de Ibiza is launching the ‘Caramelles de Navidad’ (Christmas Caramels) programme, a representation of Ibiza’s intangible heritage, which were declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 2005 and are a sign of devotion and joy at the birth of Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. Tradition had it that they were to be performed at midnight on the night of the 24th to the 25th during the Matines mass.
Thus, this Christmas programme, which includes 17 performances that cover the entire island, begins on the 24th of December with a performance at 8 p.m. from Xacoters de sa Torre in the church of Sant Antoni de Portmany, and at midnight the same squad will perform in Sant Josep de sa Talaia.
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The Caramelles Christmas programme includes 17 performances in all the island’s municipalities
On the same day, 24th December at 00.00 h in the church of Santa Eulària des Riu there will be a performance by Sa Colla des Puig de Missa.
The next performance by Xacoters de sa Torre will be on the 26th of December at 10:30 am in the church of Sant Miquel de Balansat and on the 28th of December at 7 pm in the church of Sant Mateu. They will perform again on the 29th of December at 10:30 am in Santa Cruz in Eivissa.
The year will begin on the 1st of January with a performance by Caramelles at 12:30 pm in the church of San Rafael de sa Creu and at 7 pm in the church of San Jorge de ses Salines, both performances by Chacoteros de sa Torre.
On the 4th of January they will perform in the church of Sant Agustí des Valls at 7 p.m., on the 5th of January at 9.30 a.m. in the church of Sant Francesc de s’Estany and at 11 a.m. in the church of Puig d’en Valls. On the 6th of January, at 11.00 am in the church of Santa Eulalia del Río, a performance by Sa Colla des Puig de Misa and at 12.00 pm in the church of San Carlos de Peralta, by the Xacoters de sa Torre. At 12.30 pm, in the church of the Virgen de Jesús there will also be ‘Caramillas de Navidad’, by the Escuadra de Caramellers de la Virgen de Jesús, and at 7 pm, in the church of San Mateo, Sa Colla des Puig de Missa will perform.
The next event will be on the 12th of January at 9:30 am in the church of Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera with the Escuadra de Caramellers de Santa Gertrudis, and on the 18th of January the programme concludes with a performance by Es Xacoters de sa Torre in the church of the Sagrada Família in Barcelona.
The councillor of the Department of Culture, Education and Heritage, Sara Ramón, has stressed the importance of the caramelles, as one of the ‘most significant manifestations of our culture and intangible heritage’, pointing out that ‘within our song, and within the redoblada song, they are most likely the oldest expression’.