This weekend, 21st and 22nd October, Sant Josep celebrates the Fira de la Sal (Salt Fair). This annual event celebrating the island’s rich salt heritage is now in its seventh year. On this occasion, the Town Hall will offer different activities that will take place during these two days between Sant Jordi and the Ses Salines Natural Park.
On October 21, the celebrations will be centered in Sant Jordi square. From ten o’clock in the morning there will be a craft market that will display local products in the square between 10 am and 6 pm. There will also be a children’s salt watercolor workshop led by Clara Cerviño at 10:30 am.
At 1.30 p.m., Toni Manonelles, with the collaboration of Sabors d’Eivissa, will prepare garum, the most important fermented fish sauce from Roman times. Half an hour later, the organization will prepare a tasting of the traditional dish ossos with cabbage prepared by Catering s’Olivera. Also, the old salt mountain of the reservoir will host a Nordic walk through ses Salines that will start at ten o’clock in the morning.
In the afternoon another of the traditional events will be held at 7.30 p.m. in the church of Sant Jordi, the ‘salpassa’, or blessing of the salt, followed by the mass.
The next day, there will be a dramatized visit ‘El valent vigilant de la torre’ at the Torre de la Sal Rossa at ten o’clock in the morning. At the same time, Ricard Marlasca and Josep Maria López Garà will offer a guided tour of the old salt complex of the Xanga. In addition, Sant Francesc will host four information tables on natural heritage of the Natural Environment Department of the Balearic Government.
On the other hand, the expert in traditional trades Vicent Marà Palermet will lead the traditional salt harvest accompanied by the explanations of the historian Antoni Ferrer Abárzuza in the crystallization marsh number 11 of ses Salines.
Other events planned for that day are a traditional ballada of the Grup Folklòric Sant Jordi de ses Salines in the old salt mountain of the salt mine at 12.10 am. 20 minutes later, the lighting of the bonfire will take place in the old salt mountain of the reservoir to remember the signal that started the harvest.
At eight o’clock in the evening, the church of Sant Jordi will celebrate a solemn massthis performance is part of their project for the recovery of the Ibizan popular song ‘Units pel nostre parlar’.
The launching
The presentation ceremony, held yesterday, was attended by the mayor of Sant Josep, Vicent Roig, the island director of Culture and Heritage, Miquel Costa, and the coordinator of Tourism of the City of Sant Josep, Eva Ruiz.
The mayor stressed the importance of this event for the local community: “The Fira de la Sal is an essential celebration for our community. Through this fair, we preserve and share a fundamental part of our heritage“.
For his part, Miquel Costa underlined the cultural value of the fair: “Salt is a symbol of Ibiza’s history. The Fira de la Sal not only gives us the opportunity to learn about the traditional production of salt, but also allows us to immerse ourselves in the richness of our culinary and cultural traditions“.
Eva Ruiz, for her part, highlighted the different activities that will be carried out and the importance of the fair “to value the salt industry and its socioeconomic and historical value”.
The festivities promise to be “an unforgettable celebration that highlights the importance of salt in the history and culture of Ibiza”according to the communiqué sent yesterday by the City Council.
For the full article, please visit Diario de Ibiza website here.