Sant Antoni - Patron Saint of all animals and pets
Animals will be blessed all over the Costa in January
Here are some of the villages celebrating Sant Antoni and blessing the animals this weekend. As the official day is on January 17th celebrations will take place on the weekend before and the one after this day depending on each town hall.
ALFAZ DEL PI
January, Sun 20 at 12.00: Dogs, cats and other animals will be blessed at the church square. BENIDORM
January, Sat 20 at 17.00: Traditional pilgrimage from the Trinquet to the Ermita de Sanz, music and dances, snacks will be offered after the holy mass at the Ermita de Sanz in honour of Sant Antoni at 17.30.
January, Sun 21 at 11.00: Holy mass at the Ermita de Sanz followed by the traditional blessing of the animals. Buns will be offered to all there. BENISSA
With a fair, bonfire and the blessing of the animals, Benissa has something to entertain the whole family this weekend. Friday, January 11
19:00: Opening of the fairground. Dolores Piera car park. Opening times: Monday to Friday from 18:00. Weekends: all day.
20:30: Inauguration of the Grup d'Artistes de Benissa exhibition "Lights and Shadows". Exhibition hall Taller d'Ivars Art centre. Opening times: Tuesday to Saturday: 18:00 to 20:30. Open until 16 February. Saturday, January 12
10:00: San Antonio Bonfire Day. Open to all groups and the whole neighbourhood in general. Lunch for all at Plaza Rei Jaume I.
11:00: Entrance of pine and other bundles of firewood with horses from the Plaza del Portal, through Calle Puríssima to Plaza Rei Jaume I.
12:00: Assembly of the bonfire and tasting of typical products. Plaza Rei Jaume I.
14:00: Lunch for all: Arros amb Fesols (rice with green beans) at the marquee in the park.
16:00: Traditional Valencian music in the marquee.
19:00: Official opening of the fair.
19:30: Popular dances. Plaza Rei Jaume I.
20:30: Blessing and lighting of the bonfire. Plaza Rei Jaume I. Sunday, January 13
09:30: Gathering of horses, carriages and riders. Camí de Canor.
10:30: Collector’s market. Sale and exchange of philatelic material.
12:00: Gastronomic competition: Paella.
Gathering of animals for their blessing in Pl. Portal. (in front of Town Hall).
12:30: Cavalcade of riders and carriages and parade of pets and animals through the town.
13:15: Blessing of animals. Main door Parish Church.
CALPE
The festival of San Antonio is marked on two Sunday afternoons in Calpe, both with gifts for pets and refreshments.
January 13: The celebration and blessing of animals is staged at La Merced parish church at 12.30 and follows the weekly noon mass.
Outside church will be horses from local stables, a donkey and an albino hedgehog – the equine party goers find it too difficult to negotiate the streets leading to the parish church of Las Nieves in the old town.
January 20: The old town is the centre of celebrations. The blessing takes place during the 12.00 mass at the Las Nieves church– and again there are refreshments and gifts.
CAMPELLO
January, Sun 20 at 11.00: Traditional horses, carriages and other animals parade from the Avda. La Creu all the way to the church. This traditional animal blessing parade is very popular in the village so many will attend. The holy mass will start at 12.00 and then the animal blessings will take place at the church square where the 'rollitos' (buns) are also blessed.
On this same day, from 11.00 to 14.00: Pets and other animals party full of activities and exhibitions, also raffles and talks in aid of various associations. All at Parque Can El Campello on C/ Riu Monnegre.
CASTELLÓN DE LA PLANA
January, Sat 20 they will bless their animals at 20.30 near the Casal Jove and then burn the bonfire at Pl Virgen del Carmen and at Grupo Mediterráneo where the traditional dinner is organized.
DENIA
January, Sun 21 at 10.30 animals (and owners) get together to set off in a parade through the village from C/ Miraflor all the way to C/ Marqués de Campo at approx. 12.00 where all animals will all be blessed. FINESTRAT
January, Sun 20 from 12.00 to 15.30: music bands parade through the village collecting all goods donated by neighbours to raise funds for the fiestas in an auction after the blessing of the animals.
The animals will be blessed at Pl de la Torreta square where the auction of the donated goods will start.
JAVEA
Celebrations to mark the feast day of San Antonio Abad in Javea take place of two key dates; January 12 and January 17. Saturday, Jan 12
At 10.30: Organisers brunch. At 12.00: Pine tree taken from Pl de la Constitución to C/ San Antonio and set ready for the burning at 20.00.
At 14.00: Organisers get together for lunch.
At 20.30: The pine tree is set alight. The local brass bands will entertain all and there will be dried fruits and mistela for everyone there!
Sunday, Jan 17
At 12.00: The traditional parade with animals will start from the port, after the mass at the Fisheman's Church', and will continue with the parade and blessing of the animals at 13.00. LA NUCÍA
January, Sun 20 at 12.00: Blessing of all the animals at the Plaza Mayor, outside the church.
LLÍBER
Jan 13: Horses and other animals get together at the medical centre car park in the morning. The parade will start at noon from the car park to reach the square where the blessings will take place.
After the blessings, there will be entertainment for young and adults until 5.00pm at the medical centre car park with bouncy castles and more! OLIVA
January 20: The blessings will take place at the 'Hermita dels Sants' parish church after the morning service.
PEGO
January, Sat 19 at 12.00hrs the pine tree will be placed at the Pl de la Font and at 20.00hrs it will be set alight.
January, Sun 20 the pilgrimage will start at 10.00hrs from the Pl de la Font to the ‘Ermita de San Antonio‘ where the animals will be blessed after the mass at 11.00hrs.
The fiesta and entertainment will continue all day at the Ermita de Sant Antoni with the traditional ‘Porrat’ MORAIRA January, Friday 11 19.30: Decoration of the church square. January, Saturday 12
12.00: Building of the bonfire.
18.30:Storytelling in the church square and popular chocolate drinks.
19:00: Popular games. 20:00: Parade of the giant demon. Next, start of the parade of Sant Antoni and his entourage from La Lonja. Upon reaching the church square, theatrical performance "San Antón y los demonios", blessing and burning of the bonfire.
21:00: Popular dinner around the bonfire with musical ambience. January, Sunday 13
10:30 - Parade of the image of San Antoni to the church.
11:00: Mass in honour of San Antoni and blessing of bread.
11:15: Concentration of carriages and animals in the Plaza de Les Sorts.
11:30: Parade to the church and blessing of animals.
12:00: ‘Dansà de La Marina’ on Calle Doctor Calatayud, with the participation of dance groups from different towns of La Marina Alta and the central regions. Upon arriving at Les Sorts square, the ‘Jota de Moraira’ will be danced.
13:00: Performance of the ‘Muixeranga de Alicante’ in the
Plaza de Les Sorts.
13:30: Popular food in the Plaza de Les Sorts.
16:00: Hot chocolate served. TEULADA
January, Sat 19 at 12.00: Numerous activities in the plaza del Porxes.
The Sant Antoni demons will parade into the square with a local music band, there will be bell ringing and the burning of the Sant Antoni bonfire, followed by a ‘bonfire lunch’, where people bring their own food
16.00: Concert by a traditional Valencian music band.
January, Sun 20 at 12.00: The image of San Antón will be taken to Sant Vicent hermitage in a procession with carriages, followed by the traditional animal blessing and the giving out of buns for all attendees.
VILLAJOYOSA
January, Sat 19 at 8.00: Villajoyosa’s Ermita will start the day with an awakening parade through the village and once the village is up, at 10.00: snacks will be offered.
After the snacks at 11.00: a horse dressage exhibition will take place.
The awaited animal blessing will take place at 16.00 followed by a dog show organized by SPAV.
At 19.00: Buns of Sant Antoni‘ (Rollitos) will also be blessed and offered to all, together with some hot chocolate and pumpkin fritters.
January, Sun 20: The celebrations start again at 8.00 with the awakening parade through the village. At 11.00: Holy mass followed by a holy procession with the saint.
Fiestas will come to an end with the traditional floats parade starting at 13.00hrs.
For the full programmes or more information on this event please contact your local Tourist Information Office.