Sant Antoni

In the moments as I’m writing this, in Palma de Mallorca, on the large square at the cathedral on the sea front there are gathering all kinds of animals from the city and the nearby fincas in order to appear in solemn procession before Saint Anthony at the Claustro de Sant Antoniet in the old town. The route already has been carpeted with sand, the local dignities and the representatives of the farmers’ association already have taken seat on the occasional wooden platform in front of the church, and the crowd behind the bars and on the balconies is looking forward with excitement to the mounted policemen leading the procession and on this occasion having their animals blessed as well.






Unfortunately in this year I cannot be there, thus I am rehashing old times only with the pictures taken in the last year. I apologize for the quality of the images, as in the crowd I could only take a picture here and now with the camera lifted above my head. Thus the best moments are only fixed in my memory.





Several farms come in procession on a tractor and with a cage displaying the cream of the beast.

The car of the blind man’s dogs. In front of them went that of the policemen’s dog.

Between the other animals receive their blessing also the dimonis who on the previous night were busy on the temptation of Saint Anthony all over the island. And the masquerade figures receive theirs too. This cat bridegroom is leading a mouse bride.




The blessing was addressed not only to the animals present, but also to those absent. I took home the little picture of Saint Anthony which was distributed as a proof of this. While I’m writing this, it keeps its benevolent eye on the beast laying around my chair.