i had zero clue about this old spanish tradition (details below) of having horses run through bonfires around the city (the province of ávila) for good luck & blessings – the pictures are actually quite gorgeous – i just fear for the safety of the animals along with the spainards who are crazy enough to ride them through flames! obviously old traditions die hard but this one might need to be rethought (has PETA seen this?) before something awful happens! popbytes over & out for now … xoxo
Annual Saint Anthony purification ceremony in the village of San Bartolome de Pinares near Avila on January 16, 2010. The festival coincides every year with the eve of the religious festival of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals. According to tradition, revellers ride their horses through bonfires placed around the village to purify the animals with fire and smoke after receiving a blessing from a priest.
PHOTOS | FAME PICTURES
