A TRADITION by which horses are inspired to leap from 20 burning bonfires has been revived after a COVID break and never everyone seems to be blissful.
Celebrating San Anton, Spain’s patron saint of animals, Las Luminarias is again after final yr’s COVID-19 outbreak, however pandemic restrictions are nonetheless in place.
This yr, 120 horses and donkeys had been seen crossing the cobbled village streets of San Bartolome de Pinares, close to Avila, with out such restrictions, on the 200-year-old occasion.
The unusual ritual commemorates a devastating epidemic that worn out many of the cattle and horses within the area.
All photos from Cordon Press
Smoke from bonfires is supposed to drive away evil spirits.
For an occasion celebrating animal welfare, it sparked controversy over how horses had been handled.
The Nationwide Animal Welfare and Welfare Affiliation has made an annual request that horses go by the bonfires merely to get the ‘purifying’ smoke, quite than by way of the bonfires, in a transfer supported by the city corridor.
However most drivers ignore official recommendation and rush by way of the flames.
Organizers mentioned no horses had been harmed throughout the hour-long celebration this yr. Precautions equivalent to slicing horse hair had been additionally taken to forestall the animals from getting burned.
Horse homeowners and riders have to be formally registered and have civil legal responsibility insurance coverage.
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