The strange Spanish traditions on the day of San Antón
larger | smaller
By h.b. - Jan 18, 2009 - 2:10 PM
The Patron Saint of Animals sees many people queueing to bless their pets in Madrid, while in Mijas women throw stones at the genitals of the Saint.

Saturday was the Saints Day for San Antón, the patron saint of animals, and long queues appeared outside the church of the same name in Madrid as pet owners waited for their animals to be blessed.

The proud owners then parade with their animals in an event known as ‘vueltas del Santo’, in which animals from the Zoo, Guardia Civil, and both Local and National Police also take part.

The day also saw long queues of the faithful to buy three ‘saintly’ bread rolls which tradition says two of which must be eaten during the day. The last roll, is put aside with a coin for a year, a guarantee of future work and health.

In Mijas in Málaga the date has another tradition. Single women throw stones at the genitals of the statue of San António Abad in the belief this will bring them a boyfriend or husband the following year. This year some 50 took women part in the tradition as the priest called on them to be careful not to damage the wooden altar of the hermitage with their pebble throwing.

Click here for related stories

 mobile |  email this article |  printer friendly page

 del.icio.us |  digg |  technorati |  yahoo | Stumble It!
Facebook | Reddit | Newsvine | Meneame | Wikio
Blink | Google | Fresqui | MSN reporters | Live Spaces
My Space | Fark | Mixx | Twitter

Spanish Oddities

Readers' comments:
Please keep to the subject. Opinions published here are of our visitors, not the Typically Spanish team. Comments which go against Spanish laws or which are libellous are not allowed. We reserve the right to delete any comment we wish. Placing a comment indicates you have read our terms and conditions and privacy policy .

Por favor, céntrate en el tema. Son las opiniones de los internautas, y no las de Typically Spanish. No está permitido verter comentarios contrarios a las leyes españolas o injuriantes. Reservado el derecho a eliminar los comentarios que consideremos fuera de tema. Escribir un comentario indica que has leído nuestros condiciones de uso y politica de privacidad .