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Hundreds of Spaniards watched horses gallop amid towering flames as pet owners arrived hours later madrid On Saturday, they took their dogs and cats to church and were sprayed with blessings by the priest.
contrasting spanish A traditional event is held every January in honor of Saint Anthony Abbott, the patron saint of domestic animals. Despite criticism from animal rights groups, the horse-fire spectacle attracts loyal audiences every year.
Las Luminarias is a centuries-old tradition that takes place in the Spanish village of San Bartolome de Pinares, population 500, about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Madrid. Riders guide their horses through a bonfire in the middle of the street, an act believed to purify the animals for the coming year.
Attendee Antonio Patricio, 62, said: “This event used to be held because it was believed that the branches and smoke would bless the horses and donkeys used for farming as a form of healing, preventing them from getting sick and ensuring they continued to work in the fields.”
The festivities began late Friday evening, with giant tree branches filling the streets and locals contemplating sharing wine, beer and sweets. Over the course of a few hours, these chimneys ignite, turning into treacherous conflagrations that the animals must jump over or around.
Animal rights groups have long criticized Las Luminarias, but locals say the horses are rarely injured.
The next morning, St. Anthony’s Day, pet owners in some Spanish churches take their furry companions to be sprayed with holy water. This ritual blessing is believed to bring good health and protection to the animals for a year – although there is less objection to dogs and cats being sprayed with water than to horses standing in flames.
Pet owners waited patiently outside the entrance to Sant’Antoine Church in central Madrid on Saturday. catholic Priests blessed passing animals. Many of the dogs were bundled up in winter coats, while the cats looked confused.
“I’m happy to be able to do this,” said Madrid resident Rosa Gomez, holding up her pointy-eared dog. hurry up. “She was a puppy and six years ago a family couldn’t care for her so we adopted her and she’s been with us ever since.”
Hours before Las Luminarias begins, riders wrap their pony tails in fire-resistant tape and braid their manes. Some people apply a glaze to the animals’ manes to prevent them from burning when jumping through flames. Others beautify them, braiding their manes tightly, tying pink and red ribbons to their tails with tape, and donning decorative headdresses.
Livestock and agriculture are common livelihoods in San Bartolome and dozens of other villages and towns in central Spain, but they now stand empty for much of the year. Las Luminarias began after people began to believe the smoke could purify and heal horses centuries ago, locals say, after a mysterious disease swept through the village’s animals.
Going to Las Luminarias meant coming home early the next morning with clothes and hair smelling like cigarette smoke. Across Spain’s deserted countryside, locals welcome the tradition, which brings family, friends and onlookers to the village for a night out every year.