# Cant de la Sibil·la (Song of the Sibyl)

> Medieval song of the Last Judgment that is performed in the churches of Mallorca on Christmas night. Mallorca preserved it when the Counter-Reformation banned it in almost all of Europe. World Heritage Site (UNESCO, 2010

- URL: https://dissenyindigena.org/en/entry/cant-de-la-sibil-la/
- Traditional festival in Mallorca
- Disseny Indígena · Manuel Bauzà Ramis


## What is

Medieval song of the Last Judgment that is performed in the churches of Mallorca on Christmas night. Mallorca preserved it when the Counter-Reformation banned it in almost all of Europe. **World Heritage Site (UNESCO, 2010)**.

## On i quan

- All the parishes of Mallorca and La Seu, at **Christmas Matins**, before the Midnight Mass (December 24).

## Personatges and objects

- **The Sibil·la**: before a clergyman, then a child; Today in many churches a girl or woman dresses and espasa of the Sibil·la .
- **Escolanets** with ciris (candles) that accompany it (to verify in each parish).
- **Organ** between stanzas.

## How is

- **A cappella** singing, melody probably of Gregorian origin; the organ plays between stanzas.
- The Sibil·la wears a matching silk tunic, cape and cap, and a **sword** raised before her face while she sings.
- At the end he draws **a cross in the air** with his sword. In some towns he cuts a *coca* hanging from the pulpit.

## Vocabulary

- **Sibil·la**: prophetess; also who sings it.
- **Matines**: Christmas Eve matins.
- **consueta**: book of ceremonies.
- **«Al jorn del judici…»**: first verse (to verify in the Seu version).

## History

- **10th century:** documented in Catalonia, Italy, Castile and France.
- **14th century:** a Majorcan *consueta* describes the ritual; Codex found in 1908 in the Concepció convent.
- **1572:** Bishop Diego Arnedo prohibits it. **1575:** the council restores it.
- **1666:** new attempt at prohibition (Bishop Manjarrés de Heredia); survives.
- **19th century:** current versions are transcribed.

## Protection

- **Bé immaterial d'interest cultural** declared by the Consell de Mallorca, **13/12/2004**.
- **UNESCO**, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, **11/16/2010** (Nairobi).

## Why is it design

- **Minimal scene**: a voice, a sword, a dress, a pulpit.
- **Final gesture as a signature**: the cross drawn with the sword.
- **Local resistance**: a ritual design that survived censorship.

## For the project

- Inventory of Sibil·la dresses by parish: who embroiders them (link with brodats ).

## Sources

- https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cant_de_la_Sibil·la