Caramelles are ancient songs that announce the birth of Jesus as narrated by the Gospels. They are performed by carameller choir members during Midnight Mass on Christmas Even instead of the parish priest’s homily or sermon. 

Caramelles are accompanied by different musical instruments such as the flute, the espasí (a sword-shaped metal instrument) and castanyoles (enormous castanets) and represent a cultural practice that has been passed down from one generation to another through the oral tradition. 

A performance of caramelles consists of three parts that last about twenty minutes. The first part consists of the caramelles themselves, made up of seven pentasyllabic verses with fixed lyrics. The second part includes the so-called gotxos: octosyllabic verses that vary according to performer and are sung redoubled. 

And lastly is the oferiment, which consists of eight-syllable verses performed by a two performance without redoubling that contain happier verses dedicated to the Holy Trinity. 

Each year at Christmas time, the Federació Colles de Ball i Popular Culture d’Eivissa i Formentera programs several performances of caramelles in different parishes in Ibiza and Formentera over several days.