Pine Climbing for Sant Antoni in Pollença: A Tree Trunk That Brings the Neighborhood Together

Pine Climbing for Sant Antoni in Pollença: A Tree Trunk That Brings the Neighborhood Together

When the pine comes to town and the evenings grow longer

On Saturday parts of Pollença and Port de Pollença turn once again into a small stage: heavy pine trunks are transported into the village with effort and set up in central squares. Around 2:00 PM the raising of the trunk begins; later in the evening it is time for brave men to climb a trunk that has first been stripped of branches and oiled. Those who make it to the top receive something that no price tag can buy — loud applause and a moment in the spotlight.

The scene is immediate: the smell of pine resin mixes with roasted stick bread and wood smoke, children play around the edges of the plaza, and older neighbours exchange old climbing stories. In Port de Pollença a light sea breeze adds to the scene, making mats and flags flutter; sometimes that very wind makes the wood even slipperier — an extra thrill.

The practice of stripping and soaping the trunk beforehand is part of the tradition; in the past the reward was a rooster, as older residents still recount today, a reminder of wider conversations about pines and tree management such as When Palma's Trees Fall Silent: Felled Pines and Lost Trust.

For visitors, pine climbing is a straightforward experience: it is loud, a bit messy and entirely unpretentious. Spectators often sit on improvised benches or lean against a warm stretch of wall. The atmosphere is less a staged show than a neighbourhood event; people shout tips to one another, clap along, and the local band provides the soundtrack.

Why does this matter for Mallorca? Because small, concrete rituals like this create identity. In a time when much is professionalised, these traditions are maintained by volunteers: from transporting the trunk and erecting it to cordoning off the streets; similar grassroots action over urban trees has appeared in reports such as Alarm in Palma: Neighborhood Resists Tree Felling on Plaza Llorenç Villalonga. They are a place where generations meet — the young who climb and the old who pass on their anecdotes from earlier times.

If you want to enjoy the spectacle respectfully: arrive early, find a spot, and do not cross the safety zones. The municipality usually provides barriers and guidance; it is nice to smile at the volunteers — they are part of the whole, and conversations about replanting and urban greenery are explored in pieces like Where is my tree? Pere Garau marks the gaps in urban greenery. And yes: warm clothing for the evening is a good idea, as January nights on the island can be chilly.

For Pollença, pine climbing is more than an item on the calendar — it is a small piece of lived-togetherness. The tight-packed applause when someone reaches the top feels almost like a short, collective exhale: we experienced this together. These days that is worth more than any medal.

Photo: Ajuntament de Pollença