The Song of Sibil.la
Anyone who has spent time in Mallorca, especially during the Christmas season, will have heard of the song of the Sibil.la. It is one of the most important traditions on Christmas Eve in Mallorca.
Sibila, the name
It is a female name, spelled in different ways (Sibil.la, Sebile, Sybille, Sibyl, etc.) and quite commonly used in various European countries. Originally, it was the name of a prophetess, and later, somehow, it came to refer to all women who could foresee the future.
Sibylline, what does it mean?
This adjective clearly originates from the name Sibyl. According to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy (RAE in Spanish), this term refers to ‘something mysterious or obscure, sometimes with an appearance of importance’.
Ancient origins
It seems that the myth of the Sibyls originated in Asia Minor, and from there spread to Greek and Roman mythology. In Greece, they were transmitters of divine revelations and designs, as in Rome, where it was believed that Apollo had granted them the gift of seeing the future.
The Sibyls of Antiquity
All of them are associated by name with a city or region of the ancient world, mainly in Asia Minor or the Mediterranean. There were 12: the Eritrean Sibyl, Tiburtine Sibyl, Agrippine Sibyl, Cimmerian Sibyl, Cuman Sibyl, Delphic Sibyl, European Sibyl, Hellespontine Sibyl, Libyan Sibyl, Persian Sibyl, Phrygian Sibyl, and the Sibyl of Samos.
From the classical world, they moved into the Christian universe, and all of them had powers to predict the future, each with their own setting and rituals. In general, they have been depicted hundreds of times in paintings and sculptures, including in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.
La Sibil.la
This is how this name is used and written in Catalan (or Mallorcan), and it should be noted that it came to our island with the conquest of King James I. At that time, in the Middle Ages, many people were illiterate and the Church strove to make certain liturgies better understood by the people, accompanying them with educational performances and dramas.
The most important times of the year were Easter and Christmas, and the song of La Sibil.la was traditionally used for the end-of-year celebrations.
Music and lyrics
The Song of the Sibyl is originally a poem that was sung in churches as a Gregorian chant and is based on the prophecies of the Sibyl of Eritrea. It deals with the Last Judgement (Judicii Signum), and although it was once known in many places and appears in 10th-century documents in Italy, France, Castile and Catalonia, today it is only sung in Majorca and Alghero (Sardinia).
In Mallorca, this deep and mysterious song is usually performed by a boy, or in some cases by a woman or girl. The singer is normally dressed in a tunic, cape and hat, but what is most striking is that he also carries a sword, which he holds straight in front of his face while singing. At the end, he symbolically forms a cross in the air with the sword.
In the past, it was sung in Latin, but nowadays it is sung in Catalan on Christmas Eve. Its verses describe a series of terrible events, the end of the world and the arrival of Jesus Christ as judge of mankind and their lives.
Here is a short excerpt, with the opening and closing verses of the song of Sibil.la, translated into Spanish in the image for better understanding. The original version is longer, and being in Catalan, the rhyme is much more harmonious.
Begining
“El jorn del judici
parrà qui haurà fet servici.
Jesucrist, Rei universal,
home i ver Déu eternal
del cel vindrà per a jutjar
i a cada u lo just darà.“
End
“Oh humil Verge! Vos qui heu parit
Jesús Infant aquesta nit,
a vostro Fill vullau pregar
que de lo infern nos vulla guardar.
El jorn del judici
parrà qui haurà fet servici.”
In 2010, the Song of the Sibil.la was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.
Where can you listen to the singing of the Sibil.la?
If you are in Mallorca in December, you can hear the Sibil.la song live on Christmas Eve in many of the island’s churches, including Palma Cathedral. Another option is to search for videos on YouTube. Some of them are just sung versions, without images, but they are still captivating and deeply mysterious.
If you are going to attend Midnight Mass at the cathedral, you may want to read about it beforehand. Follow the link below: Cathedral of Palma