Blessing the Animals in Fuencaliente

Fiesta of St Anthony the Abbot, Fuencaliente, La Palma, Canary Islands
Blessing the animals at the fiesta of St Anthony the Abbot, Fuencaliente

Today is the fiesta of San Antonio Abad (St. Anthony the Abbot) in Fuencaliente, and at midday the priest held a special, traditional service to bless the animals in the church square. I was curious, so I went.

I didn’t know whether to expect pets or farm animals, but there were both. At twelve promptly, the priest came out, gave a short sermon on looking after your animals, said a prayer, and then sprinkled the animals with holy water.

When the cat got wet, he said something you don’t expect to hear in church, but everyone else seemed happy.

Members of the congregation

Ferret at the fiesta of St Anthony the Abbot, Fuencaliente, La Palma, Canary Islands Kid and donkey at the fiesta of St Anthony the Abbot, Fuencaliente, La Palma, Canary Islands
Cat at the fiesta of St Anthony the Abbot, Fuencaliente, La Palma, Canary Islands Terrapins at the fiesta of St Anthony the Abbot, Fuencaliente, La Palma, Canary Islands
Pet Duck at the fiesta of St Anthony the Abbot, Fuencaliente, La Palma, Canary Islands  Little girl at the fiesta of St Anthony the Abbot, Fuencaliente, La Palma, Canary Islands

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