Candle Dance

The Ball del Ciri (Candle Dance) is a traditional dance with a long history in the municipality of Osor. Its origins trace back to the 15th and 16th centuries, and it has become one of the town’s most significant cultural heritage traditions.

The dance was originally linked to four pabordesses (female patrons) who were responsible for the care of the Rosary altar: two senior women (the most recently married women of the year, one from the town center and the other from the countryside) and two unmarried young women.

The current structure of the dance dates from 1954. The young people of Osor are the main participants, forming six couples. Led by the town crier (agutzil) and accompanied by the cobla (traditional music ensemble), the dancers process from the Town Hall to the square. The first three men carry almorratxes (perfume or scented water jugs) filled with water, while their partners hold the traditional candles. Upon reaching the square, they perform one or two greeting passes to the local authorities before starting the dance. Once the dance ends, the dancers use the almorratxes to sprinkle water over the assembled audience.

Since 1980, the Ball del Ciri has been celebrated on the third Sunday of September, coinciding with the day of Terç.