January 12 to 19 Fiestas of San Antonio Abad in Yecla

Processions and holy blessings of pets are held in Yecla on January 17 and 18

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 2026 includes the following:

Sunday January 11

12.00: Investiture at the Iglesia de los Dolores (Hospitalico) (click for map) of the new “Abadesa Mayordoma del 2026”, Mari Carmen Díaz Lorenzo, followed by the opening speech of the fiestas given by José Miguel Ibáñez Molina.

Friday January 16

20.30: The fiestas of San Antón begin at the old railway station of Yecla with the lighting of a grand bonfire by the Abadesa Mayordoma. 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 17

19.00: A procession sets out from Avenida Literato Azorín 42 with the figure of the Saint to circle the Iglesia del Hospitalico three times on Calle Hospital and Calle España (between 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 and blessed bread is distributed among those attending.

Sunday January 18

11.30: Hot chocolate for all in the Plaza de Toros.

12.30: Another procession, this time with horses, carriages, carts, dogs and other animals, setting out from the Plaza de Toros and following Avenida de la Libertad, Avenida de la Paz, Colón, San Antonio, Rambla, San José, Pascual Amat, Francisco Azorín, Avenida de la Paz and Avenida de la Paz before ending in the Plaza de Toros. Another blessing of animals and handing out of holy bread are performed at the end of the procession.

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