17th January, the feast day of San Antonio Abad, also known as San Antón, is celebrated throughout Spain, and due to the Saint’s role as the Protector of Animals the celebrations often have a distinctly zoological flavor.
It is common for the day of San Antón to feature priests throughout Spain being called upon to bless pets of all shapes and sizes, and Yecla is one of those towns where 17th January is taken particularly seriously.
The schedule for this year’s celebrations in Yecla includes the following events:
Friday 17th January
13.00 Solemn mass in the Iglesia del Hospitalico. Following the blessing the "pan del santo" or bread of san antón is distributed and the animals are blessed
21.00: Fireworks and a bonfire at the old railway station to mark the start of this year’s fiestas, followed by a snack of bread and olive oil for all those present.
Saturday 18th January
12.30 Iglesia del Hospitalico. Blessing of the animals
18.30 Iglesia del Hospitalico. Blessing of the animals
19.00: The procession featuring the figure of San Antonio Abad sets out from the Iglesia del Hospitalico, with the parade going round the block in which the church stands three times.
19.30: Holy Mass in the Iglesia del Hospitalico, during which sprigs of thyme and Rosemary are given to worshippers along with the blessed “Pan del Santo” bread.
Sunday 19th January
11.30: Chocolate breakfast at the old railway station.
12.00: Procession starting at the old railway station featuring all kinds of animals, including horse-drawn carts and carriages. The procession follows Calle Pablo Picasso, Calle España, Calle Juan Ortuño, Calle Carlos III, Calle Colón, Calle San Antonio, Calle Esteban Díaz and Avenida de Cartagena before returning to the railway station for another blessing of the animals and distribution of Pan del Santo.
Click for full information in English about the north-westerly municipality of Yecla
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