Hundreds of people filled the streets of Valldemossa to see the Carro Triomfal with the Beateta, a 130-year tradition. Àfrica Calafat, aged seven, embodied Santa Catalina Tomàs this year.
The town of Valldemossa has once again paid tribute to its most beloved saint, Santa Catalina Tomàs, with the traditional Carro Triomfal procession. About 500 people participated in the parade that traversed the historic centre on Tuesday night, keeping alive a tradition that dates back 130 years.
The procession started from the plaza de na Búger and reached its peak in the plaza de la Església, where the lights of the Carro Triomfal were lit. The Beateta, embodied this year by Àfrica Calafat Roldán, aged seven and a half, presided over the decorated float. The young girl, who studies at the Madre Alberta school in Palma, had previously participated twice as an angelet, once alongside her brother.
Àfrica's mother, Rosa Roldán, explained hours before the start of the procession that "being able to embody Santa Catalina Tomàs is the greatest thing, it is a feeling of the people and a pride." The family had a calendar where they marked off the days leading up to the big event on Tuesday.
In the morning, the Beateta, along with the angelets, the Hereva, and the Damas de Honor, participated in the procession from the Ajuntament to the parish of Sant Bartomeu, where a solemn mass was held. The most special moment was undoubtedly the night parade of the Carro Triomfal, with a Beateta who demonstrated her skills on the float.
Àfrica Calafat was accompanied by a large court of angels, embodied by Aarón Goñi, Oliva Cipriani, Román Goñi, Martina Marquès, Marc Muñoz, Paula Vives, Eduard Stefan Arseni, Teo Nistico, Teo Seijo, Rita Beriain, Kenzo Lambourne, Clàudia Rigo, Lluc Juan, Ona Amer, and Nil Campins. The little ones, with faces of excitement and a bit of fear, captivated those present.
As tradition dictates, the 'padrí' of the Beateta led the procession on a donkey, followed by 12 decorated carts filled with children dressed as payeses, some very young. The Xeremiers de sa Garriga, as well as the music bands from Montuïri and Valldemossa, also participated.
The involvement of the town in this tradition is evident: many of the facades and streets were decorated for the occasion. Among the attendees were the president of the Consell, Llorenç Galmés; the conseller Alejandro Sáenz de San Pedro; the island director of Tourism, Gillem Ginard; and the MEP Rosa Estarás, who were welcomed by the mayor of Valldemossa, Nadal Torres.
The tradition dates back to the mid-19th century when a procession began to be held on the eve of the feast. In 1896, at the initiative of Joan Miquel Sureda i Verí, marquis of Vivot and lord of sa Coma, the route of a Carro Triomfal was organised through the gardens of the estate. Years later, in 1903, the procession began to be celebrated through the streets of Valldemossa. Until 1976, the lords of sa Coma continued to organise it.
For the residents of Valldemossa, this procession is one of the most significant events of the year. The devotion to Santa Catalina Tomàs, popularly known as the Beateta, remains alive from generation to generation. The participation of the youngest, as angelets or payeses, ensures the continuity of the tradition.
The day concluded with the illuminated Carro Triomfal parade, a spectacle that attracts hundreds of people each year and reinforces the town's bond with its patron saint.
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