Veneration of the saint continued, changing with the years, until it evolved into the festival we know today, without losing the essence of its origins – veneration of the saint and seeking his protection for the animals. For many villages in Mallorca such as sa Pobla, Arta or Sant Joan, the Saint’s Day is a local holiday. 🙂 And, even in those villages where is not, is still very joyfully celebrated with people thronging the streets and congregating around bonfires, dancing with the Devil or taking their animals and pets to their local church to be blessed by the kindly Sant Antoni. 😀 Sounds good, huh? The festival actually starts on the Eve of Sant Antoni, when huge bonfires are lit in the main streets and squares of the town and people dance around the flames. The fire is the real centre of the celebrations, symbolising the ancient ritual of purification and a renewal of life, the triumph of good over evil. 🙂
Later that same night, everyone toasts bread and the local sausages such as llonganisses, botifarrons, or sobrassada over the embers. In Sa Pobla, the culinary treat of the fiesta is s’espinagada, a dish based on eels. And is delicious, believe me!!! 😛 One of its main attractions is the traditional Dance of the Devils, symbolising the temptations by the devil that the saint had to overcome so often and so gloriously. 🙂 The following morning, Sant Antoni’s Day, the festivities take on a slightly more serious tone. After the solemn mass in honour of the Saint, there is the Blessing of the Animals when all the village pets, canaries and goldfinches, dogs and cats, the farm animal, pigs, hens and donkeys, and ‘…all the beasties of the earth wait anxiously for the protection of the Saint for one more year. In many places the festivities continue with parades of floats depicting rural scenes and allusions to the life of the Saint. So, yes..is a must for all of you! 😀 You will love it! 😛
PS: Sant Antoni is a good saint who has money, give it so he’ll protect your animal be it of skin or feather.