After the lighting of all the Sant Antoni bonfires last night all over the island (well, there are always some exceptions, this time Felanitx being one), today is the day when most towns and villages, and Palma as well, will hold their annual beneïdes (the blessing of the animals). Legend has it that Sant Antoni Abat was not only kind to animals, but by blessing a weak piglet he allegedly demonstrated the capacity of helping sickly creatures recover. You will always see the saint depicted as accompanied by a little pig (see photo above).

In today’s beneïdes blessings (Pollença 10h00, Palma’s Cathedral at 10h30, Artà 11h00, Inca 11h00, Manacor 11h00, Muro 14h45, Sa Pobla 15h30, Sóller 15h30, Santanyí 15h30, Alcúdia 16h30, to name but a few), all kinds of animals will be paraded in front of the parish clergy: farm animals, dogs, cats, horses, birds, rats, the odd snake and whatever other fancies might take a pet lover. Some pueblos perform beneïdes for cars, motorbikes and such like, too, but dates are mostly kept separate for the vehicles’ blessings. Felanitx, by the way, will do its beneïdes next Sunday, January 24th.

The photo was taken in Sa Pobla, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: January 15th, 2010. The time was 16:10:30. The video was borrowed from the Internet. Thanks are due to YouTube and to tvmurera.

Moltes gràcies.