“This is a small neighborhood, but our fiestas are celebrated as if it were the capital because people come from all over Ibiza,” says proudly José Torres Prats, who has lived in Forada for almost fifty years and has seen the birth and growth of these fiestas. He is one of the first, along with his wife, Josefa Costa Torres, to arrive at the chapel to honor the patron saint, the Immaculate Conception. They are welcomed by María Victoria Montoro, who lives next door and looks after the maintenance and care of the small religious building. Some of the members of the parish choir of Sant Antoni, who will sing during the mass, are also already there. In the absence of Carmen Ferrer, who “is traveling”, on this occasion they will be conducted by Marià Torres, notes Pepe Dorante, the guitarist of the group.
Outside, the members of Grup folklòric Sa Colla de Buscastell begin to congregate and take a group photo in front of Can Tixedó Art Café. “There are about 25 of us,” calculates Lina Prats, who has been a member of this folkloric group for fifteen of her twenty years. Today (yesterday), she is accompanied by her sister, Marga, and her mother, Catalina Boned. They are from the area, “del Camí de sa Vorera”. “For us this is a very important and exciting fiesta and celebration, especially after having spent some time without being able to celebrate it because of the pandemic,” says the mother who, like her daughters, carries the mantellina in her hands. With this complement of white or beige fabric edged in black, they will cover their heads during the religious ceremony, which is about to begin.
Fiesta time: “The children carry ball pagés in their blood”
Among the members of the colla, five year old Leyre, and Dani who is about to turn three, stand out dressed in the traditional costume. “Last year at this time of the year, they used the costumes for the first time,” says their mother, Natalia Blánquez. The children carry ball pagés in their blood. “Their father, their grandparents and their uncle dance”, explains this resident of Sant Rafel.
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