Saint Anthony Fiesta, January 2011
Saint Anthony, patron saint of animals
Next Sunday 23rd January 2011, Poble Nou de Benitachell celebrates a fiesta to honour San Antonio Abad -Saint Anthony- . The fiesta will start at 09:30 h with a brotherhood lunch in the parking lot of the Mas y Mas supermarket. A mass will follow and at noon, as soon as the mass ends, animals will be blessed at Mercado St.
Saint Anthony, also known in the Region of Valencia as “Sant Antoni del Porquet”, is the patron saint of animals. In every town of the Region of Valencia, priests go out of their churches to bless the animals and pets of the devotees. The tradition says this blessing will protect animals from illnesses. Saint Anthony is also believed to protect against natural disasters, particularly those affecting agricultural fields.