A small rock in the Atlantic

Sunday, 14 June 2009

San Antonio del Monte

Yesterday was the biggest livestock fair on the island.

San Antonio del Monte used to be a village, but the villagers moved away. About the only thing that's left is the church of St. Anthony and the feast day, with it's massive fair. Apart from the animals, there's a craft fair, and of course lots of stalls selling cheap toys, food and drink.

It's a pretty enough little church, and for most of the day it's crowded with people visiting the saint and touching his belt.

After the mass, the statues are taken out to the fairground in a procession, and the priest blesses the animals.

Normally, it's baking hot at the fair, but as you can see, we were in the clouds yesterday. This wasn't good for photography, but it was a lot more comfortable.

After the procession and blessing, they have live music and dancing.

Labels: fiesta, Garafia, san antonio

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Sunday, 20 July 2008

The Romeria de San Antonio

A romería is a cross between a religious procession and a party. Typically, they hold a special mass and then take the statue out for several kilometres along a traditional route, followed by floats which hand out free food and wine, and lots of people, some in traditional dress, many of them singing and / or dancing.

Since it's a big event, most of them don't happen every year. Saturday evening saw the biannual romería from San Antonio to San José. The statue is San Antonio. It all moves along quite slowly, so you don't get tired, even though it's three kilometres and all uphill.

Of course some people enjoy the singing more than others.

As well as the big floats, a lot of people bring their own transport or a decorated cart for the food and wine. (Mostly wine). Some, like this one, are home-made and have a lot of character.

By the time the procession arrives in San Jose, it's about ten pm. Sad to say, if you had that many Brits drinking for four hours, you'd have some trouble. Not here. Although every body is merry, hardly anybody is drunk, because they take it slowly.

The evening ends with a concert in the old church square - this year it was rock - followed by a dance. The music went on until 5 am.