By Soller Shirley
At the weekend the clocks went back, and a new season began in the Soller Valley. This is the one that takes some getting used to as it ushers in the new chapter of the year. Many local people have completed their summer contracts and November begins the month of holidays. Some of them will be back to work by Christmas and others will not be employed until February. The unemployment benefit system means that those months will be funded – up to a point – if you have paid into the system. Finances apart, people are very happy to have a rest and see their friends at this time of year. The language of Soller reverts back to Mallorquin as they catch up. They are no longer thinking in the English, French or German which is so necessary for work here.
The early dark nights give the impression that all is shut, but this is not the case. We have some hotels and restaurants which are open year-round, and the local bars and cafes continue as normal. Life goes on year-round in this place and is the reason so many relocate here. Not for us the streetlights being turned off because there are no people. This happens all over Majorca in the tourist resorts – traffic lights and streetlights – all off for the winter. We do however need a torch for our walks home.
Local schools have two days off for All Saints Day on 1st November and an extra day on Monday 4th November. The children’s imaginations turn to Halloween and in the Soller Valley there are traditions. The Port of Soller organises all age events with children dressing up and they are busy 31st October and 2nd November 2024.
Then comes all the traditions of All Saints Day on 1st November 2024. This is an official Bank holiday in Spain and is taken very seriously. Tradition says that everyone returns to the village, town or City, where they were born. This is to meet family and collectively represent themselves at the cemetery for those who have gone before.
Soller Cemetery lives high above the city behind the station and is a layered park full of ornate and simple graves and memorials. It is one of the finest places in our world and many pilgrims find their way there each year to admire the testament to Soller life and death. The view from halfway up the mountain and out to sea mean that the dead have the best place possible.
Flowers from Michaelmas daisy pots to fine arrangements are taken there in the days before All Saints and the cemetery becomes a riot of colour and smells. The police direct the traffic and put in local traffic routes to get people there. Sometimes on that day there are hundreds of people there paying their respects and greeting old friends. The service of remembrance is held in the cemetery, in the afternoon and then everyone retires to local restaurants to catch up.
Fornalutx – All Saints Service in the Cemetery at 4 pm on 1st November 2024.
All Saints Mass at St Bartholomews Church in Soller at 10.30 am on 1st November 2024
All Sants Service at Soller Cemetery at 4 pm on 1st November 2024
All Saints Mass in St Ramon Church in the Port of Soller at 12 noon on 1st November 2024
To take a walk up there on the next day to see all the flowers is a special day in our calendar. Deia and Fornalutx do exactly the same and their beautiful cemeteries are also worth visiting on these special dates.
