The small mountain village of Selva will once again celebrate the Fira de ses Herbes, the traditional festival of herbs, from 9-11 June 2022. For centuries, the inhabitants of Selva collected herbs in the surrounding forests. They used them to make medicine, liqueurs and cosmetics, or to use the variety of herbs in local gastronomy. And they celebrate this tradition every year with a colourful festival.
Every Mallorca connoisseur knows typical Mediterranean plants such as rosemary, bitter orange, olive tree, bracken, St. John's wort and myrtle. But especially in Selva, many other herbs are known, and everything revolves around this knowledge during these three days: restaurants serve typical dishes with all kinds of local aromatic herbs, artists exhibit their works featuring herbs, and there are informative lectures.
A highlight takes place on the last day: Myrtle collectors meet early in the morning and hike together into the mountains. The harvested myrtle is then brought to the festival site, where it is distilled in a copper pot. The procession is accompanied by traditional music and children dressed as devils, the so-called "dimonis boiets".
