“Fancy a bit of magic?” I ask. Right here, before us, lies the Pou de Sa Bruixa Joana. It is a place tied to an enchanting Mallorcan legend. This well is named after the witch Joana. She lived in a cave within the woods of Bonanova near Bellver.
Legend says that Joana de Peguera lived near a spring and a fig tree. With these, she concocted her feared “mal bocí”. The story tells of a hunchbacked boy who lived not far from her cave. One day, his mother sent him to gather firewood. He stumbled upon Joana’s cave. Curiosity led him inside.
He saw Joana dancing in a circle with two friends. They chanted a rhyme. “Dilluns, dimarts, dimecres, tres; Dijous, divendres, dissabte, sis…” they sang. The boy watched in amazement. Joana noticed him. She invited him to join their dance. Instead of running, he took her hand and joined in.
Joana stopped. She decided to reward the boy. The other women agreed. They suggested she remove his hump. Joana rubbed her hands over his back. Slowly, the hump disappeared. The boy was overjoyed. He hugged Joana and kissed the others. Then, he gathered his firewood and happily returned to his mother.
The tale spread quickly. Another mother heard about Joana. She had a hunchbacked son known for his bad temper. She told him to visit Joana’s cave. Reluctantly, he went.
He found Joana dancing and singing with her friends. She invited him to dance. He rudely refused. He insulted the women. He called them ugly witches who scare people. Joana grew angry. She decided to punish him. She touched his back. Suddenly, a second hump appeared.
The boy ran home. He was angrier than ever. He now had two humps instead of one. This story teaches a lesson. If you are rude, things will turn out badly for you.
The legend of Pou de Sa Bruixa Joana is more than a tale. It reminds us of the consequences of our actions. It shows us the importance of respect. So as we stand by this well, remember the tale of Joana. Think about the boy and the magic she wielded. It serves as a reminder that kindness and respect can lead to unexpected blessings.