Fira de ses Herbes (Herb Fair), Selva

In June, the town square hosts the Fira de Ses Herbes, where you will have the opportunity to discover the great variety of aromatic herbs in the area, their tradition and their many uses in medicinal products, cosmetics, liqueurs or local cuisine. You will also be able to see how fresh myrtle is distilled in a huge copper still. You will discover one of the most inviting fairs in the island’s summer calendar.
For centuries, the inhabitants of mountain villages such as Selva have gone into the forest to collect medicinal plants to make herbal teas to relieve ailments or aromatic herbs to season their stews. On the second Sunday in June, you will have the opportunity to see how the town remembers this activity with a fair that occupies the church square and the surrounding streets. On that day, all the houses display, on balconies and windows, cloth banners painted with drawings of medicinal plants characteristic of the area, such as myrtle or murta. On Sunday, the myrtle pickers get up early to go to the mountain and collect this medicinal plant. At around 10:00 a.m. don’t miss their entrance into the square, accompanied by traditional music groups, decorated carts, children dressed as devils (known as dimonis boiets), local giants and bigheads from nearby towns such as Binissalem. Then you can learn how myrtle is distilled in a huge copper still installed in the square, until obtaining a perfumed water to which healing properties are attributed. In the days leading up to the fair you can enjoy exhibitions by local artists, musical performances, conferences on medicinal herbs and popular dances. And in the bars and restaurants you can taste dishes and tapas where aromatic herbs are an essential ingredient.