“Tears of St. Lawrence” or the Perseid meteor shower in Mallorca
“Tears of St. Lawrence” (Lágrimas de San Lorenzo) in Mallorca is a folk name for the Perseid meteor shower, one of the most beautiful astronomical phenomena of the year. This occurs when the Earth crosses the orbit of comet Swift-Tuttle, and the tiny particles left behind by the comet burn up as they enter the atmosphere, creating bright flashes called meteors. The Perseids peak on the night of August 11-12, although they can be seen on other days around that date. In 2025, up to 60-100 meteors per hour are expected, but the brightness of the waxing moon may make it a bit difficult to see.
The name of “Tears of St. Laurence” comes from the event happening alongside the feast of St. Laurence on August 10, who is said to suffer a martyr’s death at the stake – metaphorically these are his “tears” falling from the sky.
To best see meteors, it is recommended to move away from city lights — to the countryside, mountains or the coast. In Mallorca, good places to watch are the Cala Pi tower (Llucmajor), the Galatzó estate in Calvia and the town of Costitx with the Mallorca Observatory.
For comfortable observation, it is recommended to bring warm clothes, lay a towel or lie down on a sunbed, turn off your phones so that the screen light doesn’t interfere, and let your eyes get used to the darkness for about 20-30 minutes. You need to look northeast, where the Perseus constellation is located — the source of the meteor shower.
