The annual January fiestas of San Antonio Abad in Yecla
Blessings of domestic animals, bonfires, processions and warming rustic bread with oil to warm the winter nights in Yecla!
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 begins with the investiture of the “Abadesa Mayordoma”.
The main events include the with the lighting of a grand bonfire at the old railway station of Yecla with live music as those present eat hearty country bread with top quality olive oil, warming up the cold winter night. There is then a procession of the figure of the Saint, circling the Iglesia del Hospitalico, and a “Rociera” Mass inside the church, during which the tradition of handing out sprigs of thyme and rosemary is observed. After a mass a Blessing of Animals is held.
Usually on the Sunday, another procession, this time with horses, carriages, carts, dogs and other animals, sets out from the station and another blessing of animals and handing out of holy bread are performed.
If visiting Yecla don’t forget to make sure one of your first ports of call is the tourist office (Plaza Mayor, 1, telephone 968 754104, email turismo@yecla.es).
For more local events, news and visiting information go to the home page of Yecla Today.
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