The Valiant Women of Soller - Soller's Fira & Firo

The sun is shining and Soller is getting ready for a major fiesta - the Firo that celebrates the battle between the Moors and the Christians that happened on our beach and in our town. The 450th anniversary of the event is taking place from 5th to 9th May 2011. Flags are already festooning houses and shops all over the valley and the nature of the people means that they usually have both flags dangling from their balconies - as if they can't quite decide who to support. The Balearic flag is often alongside so all aspects of life and country are represented.

This fiesta is not for the faint hearted or those who hate loud bangs and noise. This is a riotous event and almost anything goes including shooting holes in the straw hats worn for the purpose! A ceremony in Sant Bartomeu Church in the square in Soller on Thursday 5th May at 20.30 pm starts the celebrations. The 'Valiant Women' are introduced to the town, they are elected each year to celebrate the part the women played in attacking the marauding pirates. They turned them back to the sea using a barrage of stones, tar on the road, ambush and all the surprise tactics that these Soller women were capable of. This inaugural gathering includes speeches from local dignitaries and the wonderful music of the towns local choir, Promusica Chorus. They will sing a number of traditional Mallorquin summer songs finishing with a flourish as they sing La Balanguera, the national anthem of the Balearics. 

Friday 6th May celebrates the art and culture of the hidden valley with the opening of no less than 13 new art exhibitions scattered in locations throughout the town. Paintings, ceramics, photographs of the history of the Firo in Soller to name but a few. The church courtyard plays host to an exhibition of bonsai trees and the railway station exhibition hall unveils its new additions to the permanent Miro exhibition. All the art locations are around the main square and surrounding streets. It is possible to have a wonderful day wandering from gallery to gallery, stopping occasionally in the square to be fed and watered. There are shows for children from 17.30 including a Disney montage to be held in the market square together with bouncy castles. The day ends after the main square has been rocking the night away from 23.30 to the sounds of the tribute band Ossifar and the DJ Starkin.

Saturday 7th May - Football matches take place this morning at four locations around town and then the action centres around the main square in Soller. The market will be in full swing and the crowds will be entertained by the local music and dance group Xeremiers de Soller. Look out for the smoking lion and don't be phased by the loud bangs. It is only the Christians practising for the battle that is still to come. At 17.00 there is a solemn procession to Sant Bartomeu church with an offering of flowers as the town gives thanks for its past and its future which this Firo reminds them of. From 22.30 the Soller square will be rocking to the sounds of Calipso which starts the night, followed by Tumbet De Solfa and Baix'n Nicotina. This night will be full of music under the stars and no-one will want to go home.

Sunday 8th May has an array of offerings from a classic car exhibition, chess tournament, cactus display at the botanical gardens and a traditional Mallorquin market in the market hall. A gymkhana is being held at the Son Angelats Poligiono at 11 am and for those that just want to sit in the square the town band will entertain from 12 noon. At 22.00 the town starts to rock again with a trip down memory lane for Mallorca Nostalgica to be followed by dancing the night away to local music groups.

On Monday 9th May at 10 am a traditionally dressed group gather at Can Tamany in the L'horta district of the town and gather outside a house with a plaque on the wall commemorating the valiant women. It is said that this was the site from which they fought off the marauders. This is a poignant low key ceremony that celebrates the power of good over evil and is fascinating to watch. Then the town goes mad - anything goes on this day of the year. Don't come out unless you are ready to party, be pasted with black tar and kissed by marauding pirates! At 15.30 in the square Captain Angelats gives the word to go and fight the pirates on the beaches as they have been spotted trying to land on the Repic beach. The call to arms comes and they get down to the beach (on the tram??), walking, running on horseback and the fighting starts. The battle starts on the beach, erupts on the Pont d'en Barona and eventually ends back in the square with the mother of all battles. At 21.00 Captain Angelats announces victory again for the 450th time and the town parties with music and dancing until the small hours.

Soller has two days local fiesta for this special occasion so the town will be quiet on Tuesday. Enjoy a lie in and recovery time while the great workers of the town council clean the place and put it all back in good order. What a party it will be and one to which you are all invited. Come and join us here in the Hidden Valley. You are very welcome.