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Like every January 17, dozens of animal owners went to the San Antón church in the Chueca district of Madrid, to celebrate the feast of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals.
Like every January 17, dozens of animal owners went to the San Antón church in the Chueca district of Madrid, to celebrate the feast of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals.
On the steps of the church, cats and dogs waited patiently to receive holy water from Catholic priests.
Father Angel, head of the parish, recalled that this Catholic tradition aims to protect and preserve the health of animals for the coming year. The blessing is accompanied by a festive mass where animals are also allowed inside the church.
The feast of Saint Anthony in Madrid, celebrated since the 1980s, combines festive tunes from the municipal band, traditional breads and bonfires, a tradition also marked in several Hispanic countries.
