Every January 16, in the Spanish town of San Bartolome de Pinares, the festivities are celebrated in honor of San Antonio Abad, patron saint of animals, known as Las Luminarias.
The main event consists of the propagation of large bonfires by which the riders cross the bonfires with their horses in order to purify them and that the saint give them good health and deprived them of diseases.
There is no written record of its beginning, but it is said that it is a tradition that began in the 18th century.
All animals are treated with care and respect and no horses is injured.
Carlos Ramiro is a storyteller photographer.
freelance photographer, researcher, writer, and traveler, his stories focus mostly on four photographic fields: Documentary, architecture, nature, and creative.