Frederic Chopin to become Mallorca's adopted son
This years Diada de Mallorca (Mallorca Day) on 12th September will see Frederic Chopin become Mallorca’s adopted son, in recognition of the association that the composer had with the island. Chopin stayed on the island in the mid 19th century, with his mistress, the writer George Sand. The Consell de Mallorca named Sand as the island’s adopted daughter in 2004.
Mallorca’s Diada has been celebrated since 1997. The significance of this day goes back to the oath taken by King James II in 1276 to uphold a charter entitled Carta Franqueses i privilegis del Regne de Mallorca, which provided the legal framework for the formation of the kingdom of Mallorca. The charter allowed King James II of Mallorca to guarantee the islanders a number of rights and freedoms that protected them from the feudal tributes that were almost universally widespread in Europe at that time.
A number of institutional acts and activities take place on this day in Mallorca for residents to enjoy, such as concerts, conferences and sporting events throughout the island, and at sea. The events take place from 3 to 26 September - you can see this years calender on this website.
