Sant Antoni animal blessings
The annual festival of San Antoni – the Patron Saint of Animals, Pets & Livestock falls on January 17 and a blessing usually takes place on the closest Sunday to that date all across Spain.
In many villages this year it will take place on Sunday, January 19.
In Benidorm there will be blessings at the Ermita de Sanz, located behind the El Cisne rastro. Many owners bring dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, budgies and at the Ermita, because of its proximity to fields, horses also come to be blessed.
It’s a wonderful tradition and a delight to see a variety of animals each year. In La Nucía it will be on Saturday 18 on the steps of the church in Plaza Mayor, next to the town hall – both taking place at 12 noon.
CALPE’S DOUBLE BLESSING
SERVICES to bless animals in Calpe to celebrate patron saint of animals Sant Antonio take place on Sunday January 12 and a week later on Sunday January 19.
The former is staged at La Merced church and the second outside Our Lady of the Snows in the old town.
The January 12 service begins at 12.00 at La Merced and features larger animals such as horses and donkeys as well as pets - there will be refreshments and gifts for pets and a free opportunity to have a photograph of pet and owner.
On January 19, the blessing starts at 12.30 at the Las Nieves parish church. There is hot chocolate and cakes for those taking part and again a photo opportunity.
At both services, pet owners will receive a gift, a rucksack containing snacks for their pet and a reusable water bottle for diluting the animal’s urine in the street.
LLIBER ANIMAL BLESSING THIS SUNDAY
FROM PIGEONS to ponies, the ever-popular blessing of the animals takes place in Lliber on Sunday, January 12. Sant Antoni Abad is the patron saint of animals. On his saint’s day, villagers traditionally take their animals and pets to be blessed by the local priest.
People and their pets usually follow a procession before the actual blessing, and the one that takes place in Lliber is always one not to be missed.
The event begins at midday, although you can view the numerous horses being prepared for the procession near the medical centre car park. The animals will leave the car park at 12:00 and parade through the village until they reach the plaza, where the priest awaits them. Owners are more than welcome to join the procession.
The blessing begins at 12:30, and usually takes a while due to the number of animals.
Following the blessing, there will be a paella (tickets are €1 and can be bought from the festeros), games and inflatables for children between 14:00 and 17:00 in the medical centre car park.