5 Curiosities of Menorca and Menorcans
If you think of Menorca you always end up thinking of its people, the Menorcans, those people in love with their land to the core, who will always welcome you with a smile on their faces. Like any people, we Menorcans have some peculiarities or characteristics that make us different from the people you can find in another part of the world & today we are going to try to discover a few for you.
Menorcans are an open people by nature, although it may not seem so at first glance, surely due to being the owners of an island that has been highly coveted, historically, by other peoples/civilizations. We are also a quiet people, who live in love with their island and its customs; We will be happy to recommend anything you need on the island and above all to tell you all the anecdotes we can about “sa roqueta” as many of the islanders call Menorca.
Let's get to know Menorcans better, surely the soul of Menorca, through some of their characteristics or habits:
“Seure a la fresca”
In this typical Menorcan tradition, the printing press left by the island's insularity can be seen, as calmer than its contiguous ones and calmer than the peninsula. And it is that when the heat begins to be noticed, we Menorcans go out into the street with our “coca rossa” (the typical Menorcan chair, designed in 1920) to get some air, or rest.
In all the towns you will be able to find a group of neighbors commenting on the day sitting on their “coca rossa” in front of their house or someone more solitary taking advantage of the moment to read or simply watch the afternoon go by. Reading it you may not get the idea of how special this tradition is, but as soon as you try it you will not stop doing it.
And if you want to take it to another level, you can always take the chairs and a snack and go to the beach for “seure a la fresca”, taking advantage of the fact that there are not many people at this time of year.
Leyendas
The island's folklore is passed down from generation to generation, from grandparents to grandchildren and it is essential to forge the character and personality of Menorcans. Sitting next to a Menorcan grandparent to tell you a story is a great way to learn more about the stories of the island and also entertain an older person who will be happy for you to listen to them for a while. But if you don't have that possibility and still want to delve into the world of Menorcan legends, you can read Menorca, an island of legends on our blog; an article we published recently that will surprise you with the stories it contains.
The healthy rivalry between capitals
Despite the approximately 45 kilometers that separate Mahón and Ciutadella, the two largest towns on the island have had a deep-rooted, healthy competition since ancient times. And it is that this almost historical rivalry dates back to 1714 when Ciutadella, the old capital, lost its status in favor of Mahón during the English domination. But like everything, beauty is subjective, and indeed everyone has their own opinion of which of the two towns is more beautiful, more Menorcan. And despite all, the Menorcans, whether from Mahón or Ciutadella, we know how to appreciate the beauty and importance of one and the other and we always have friends in either of the two. After all, we are all part of a large Menorcan family.
La Mahonesa
According to Menorcan word of mouth and supported by several historians, mayonnaise was made known internationally by Marshal Richelieu during the French invasion of 1756. It is said that the Marshal visited an inn late at night and had nothing more than offer him the cook offered him a not-very appetizing cut of meat that he seasoned with the already famous mayonnaise, the Marshal was so impressed with the sauce that he asked his private cook to replicate it and when he returned to France he made it known. Many people believe that it was improvised by the cook when he was in trouble, but the truth is that there is evidence of mayonnaise from the year 1750 when the recipe was included in a popular Menorcan cookbook.
Menorcans are very proud to be the place where mayonnaise originated. It is very likely that at some point someone will tell you it is not mayonnaise, it is mahonnaise if you ask for it with the most popular name. And it is that the gastronomic richness of Menorca, is patent and demonstrated with the appointment of Menorca, European Region of Gastronomy.
Menorcans outside of Menorca
Last but not least, we could write an entire article about the Menorcans who live outside the island and how to recognize them, but for now, we are going to give you some insights into what they are like and their peculiarities.
It is easy to identify a Menorcan in a bar: if their eyes light up when they see that they have Gin Xoriger… bingo! It is from Menorca for sure. If he tells you that he is from the Balearic Islands, you ask him, Majorca? and snorts … be clear, he is from Menorca for sure.
They yearn for the sea as if it were the air they breathe and many of them have Menorca tattooed on their skin, which is not surprising as it is beautiful.
Being a small island it is easy to meet someone who studies abroad or someone who has decided to live far away, but without a doubt, everyone misses being here.
As you can see there are many things that make up the Menorcan character. Undoubtedly the best way to get to know the island is to be shown around by someone local, but if you don't have that possibility you can visit our blog and read one of the following articles about Menorca: Menorca and the 29 islets that surround it, where to enjoy the best sunsets in Menorca, Menorca an island of legends or about the patron saint festivities of Menorca. With them, you will get to know the island a little better, but above all, remember that Menorcan is not only born but also made, although we will leave this topic for another article.
