Majorcan Culture
When you visit Majorca, one of the first things culturally that is likely to strike you is just how friendly everyone is here. The language itself shows some of how the culture has grown from various different influences, as Mallorquin (The common language spoken here) is a version of Catalan which itself shares features with Spanish and French as well as English. When you walk into a place be it bar or store, people may well greet you with ‘bon dia!’ which means ‘good morning’ and this friendliness is partly what has drawn tourists to Majorca for many years now.
Catalan was at one point of Majorcan history banned, and yet it’s managed to persevere, along with many of the ancient buildings and cathedrals which have weathered not just time, but also occupations by a variety of different invaders over the years. This is an island which has a hugely varied history, and Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Moors, and Catalans have all been here at one time or another.
The island is one where art abounds, and over the centuries many artists have come here and been inspired by the beauty they’ve found. People like Chopin, Ruben Dario and Joan Miro for example. Historically the island has been a kind of refuge for many artists too, and so the arts are highly valued here. You will find galleries, ballet, orchestra and many other art forms here to tantalise the senses.
Majorcan cuisine finds its roots in many different places culturally, with Romans, Jews, Moslems and Catalans all having been a part of the island over the years, it’s not surprising to find that there are elements of each of these which have crept into the foods that you’ll find here, even though most people would say that the style is predominantly Spanish. Being an island fresh fish is something you’ll find featuring quite a lot more than you might in mainland Spain, and as in Spain, Italy and France, you’ll find wine and cheese play an important part of many meals.
Majorca is like many warm countries in this region, in that shops and other businesses often close during the heat of the afternoon so people can take a siesta. However, many of them are open in the evenings instead.