January 12 to 19 Fiestas of San Antonio Abad in Yecla

Processions and holy blessings of pets are held in Yecla on January 18 and 19

All over Spain the Saint’s Day of San Anton Abad or San Antonio Abad (Anthony the Great in English) is celebrated every January with a series of apparently bizarre scenes in which parish priests are called upon to bless pet animals, from dogs and cats to goldfish, sheep and all kinds of odd companions.

This is because Anthony, whose feast day falls on January 17, is the patron saint of a startling variety of aspects of life including not only animals but also skin diseases, farmers, butchers, basket makers, brush-makers and gravediggers!

Among the places where the day is the centre of special fiestas is Yecla in the north of the Region of Murcia, where the schedule of events in 2025 includes the following:

Sunday January 12

12.30: Investiture at the Iglesia de los Dolores (Hospitalico) (click for map) of the new “Abades Mayordomos del 2025”, Francisco Javier Muñoz Soriano and María Teresa Pisa Cañete, followed by the opening speech of the fiestas given by Inés López Coloma.

Friday January 17

20.30: The fiestas of San Antón begin at the old railway station of Yecla with the lighting of a grand bonfire by the Abades Mayordomos. Music is provided by the Grupo Folclórico Arabí while firecrackers announce the start of the fiestas and those present eat hearty country bread with top quality olive oil and a glass of wine.

Saturday January 18

19.00: A procession sets out with the figure of the Saint to circle the Iglesia del Hospitalico three times on Calle Hospital and Calle España (netween Placeta Ortega and Jabonería).

19.30: “Rociera” Mass inside the Iglesia de la Virgen de los Dolores (Hospitalico), during which the tradition of handing out sprigs of thyme and rosemary is observed. After Mass a Blessing of Animals is held.

Sunday January 19

12.30: Another procession, this time with horses, carriages, carts, dogs and other animals, setting out from the station and following Calles Pablo Picasso, España, Juan Ortuño, Carlos III, Colón, San Antonio, Esteban Díaz and Avenida de Cartagena. Another blessing of animals and handing out of holy bread are performed at the old station.

For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Yecla Today.