Saint Antonio Abad (better known as San Antón in Spain) was born in Egypt in the year 251 and spent most of his life praying and fasting in the desert, where he was tempted many times
by the Devil, who would appear dressed as a woman. Since the Middle Ages he has been acknowledged as the Patron Saint of domestic animals.
On the eve and actual day of this Saint (17th January), there are foguerons (bonfires) in many parts of Mallorca, with the additional participation of demons. One traditional
activity involves the placing of the Pi de Sant Antoni, a greased pole with a cock placed at the top, over which the youths of Pollença (Mallorca) compete. Bonfires and
illuminations are also lit in various parts of the country, especially in Andalusia, Castile-La Mancha, the Community of Valencia and Aragón.
There are traditional mounted processions in Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, which are called dels tres tombs (3-rounders). In Arquillos (Jaén) the main character is the pelotero
(he runs like a ball after people), who is symbolic of Satan the Tempter and chases the locals with a rope-soled sandal.
In Castellar de Santiago (Ciudad Real) bread loaves and rolls are
blessed and cockerels auctioned off, whilst Manlleu (Barcelona) sees the performing of the seventeenth century Ball del Ciri (Candle Dance) in the evening of St Anthony's Day. Mas de
las Matas (Teruel) is the scene of a procession involving blessed loaves and a masquerade in which local life is sent up, and in Trigueros (Huelva) legs of ham, bread, money and other
objects are thrown at the Saint as he is paraded through the streets. In Villanueva de Alcolea and Lucena del Cid, both in the province of Castellón, riders on saddled horses
jump over bonfires. On the night of the 16th in Navalvillar de Pela (Badajoz), the Encamisada takes place. This involves the participation of a great number of horses painstakingly adorned,
which follow a circuit drawn out in the town, littered with bonfires, for more than two hours whilst the riders pile endless praise on the names of St Fulgencio, St Anthony and the
Baby Jesus.
In certain towns of the territory such as Forcall (Castellón) and Mirambel (Teruel) a Santantona (play about St Anthony) is performed, in which the temptations the Saint
had to overcome in the desert are represented, culminating in the spectacular burning of a pine-branch hut.
Spanish Fiestas 
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