Baptism of pets in Madrid by San Antón, patron saint of animals

January 17th arrives, San Antón, patron saint of animals, and as every year, dozens of people queue up at the church with the same name, in Madrid, Spain, to bless their pets.

A tradition that has been part of the Madrid calendar since the eighties and to which the animals sometimes go with some reluctance and some fear.

“It is the second year that we have come to bless her. We started the tradition last year, which was the first year that she was at home, and we want to continue it,” Lucia Esteban has her dog in her arms, who has attended the central church of San Antón despite the wind and cold.

**According to tradition, in this way health and protection are given to the animals for the year that has just arrived.**In addition, on the 17th a mass is celebrated in which pets are welcome. Despite the fact that different celebrations with this date have been known since the 16th century, it was in the eighties of this century when it acquired its current form.

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