1/25/2005: Saint Anthony's purification ritual

Undertoad · 01-25-2005, 11:35 AM

Not much information is available on this annual festival in the village of Vilanova d'Alcolea near Castellon, Spain. The official caption suggests that Saint Anthony is the patron saint of animals and this is the "purification ceremony" section of the festival on his official Day.

I'm not sure how a horse is purified by jumping through fire; a good round of antibiotics and better stall maintenance would be much more effective. And I'm not sure why the patron saint of animals winds up putting his beasts into a big bonfire. Seems like an effective patron saint would score a better contract, such as the Hindus have done for the cows, or the Buddhists for all critters in general.

A round of severe googling turned up very little detail, other than Anthony's appearance at the same time in Sicily. These festivals sound like a great time, I want one:

Ancient tradition has it that the saint, like Prometheus, stole into hell and brought back fire, so naturally the festivities revolve around a bonfire. Each town places different herbs and fruits atop the blaze, creating a unique aroma. Women emerge from their homes bearing sweets and dark fruity loaves of pane nigheddu, while men pass around bottles of wine and aquavit.

Wow! I, personally, am all in favor of this kind of thing. I can taste the pane nigheddu now! I'm not sure about the community bottles, as I just got over a bout of illness, you know, wouldn't want another round of that.

lookout123 · 01-25-2005, 11:44 AM

c'mon everybody! "horse nuts roasting on an open fire, dipshits making your equine roast"

Elspode · 01-25-2005, 12:14 PM

Looks like something akin to driving the animals 'twixt the balefires at Beltane (May Day, to the rest of you non-Pagans).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane

Trilby · 01-25-2005, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

Looks like something akin to driving the animals 'twixt the balefires at Beltane (May Day, to the rest of you non-Pagans).

" 'twixt" being the operative word.

Troubleshooter · 01-25-2005, 01:22 PM

Just another party plagarized from the pagans right?

xoxoxoBruce · 01-25-2005, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Each town places different herbs and fruits atop the blaze, creating a unique aroma.

I doubt if it would mask burning hair as that's pretty pungent.

magilla · 01-25-2005, 12:31 PM

Note that they have the horse's mane all bundled up in flowers. Presumably they did the same for the critter's tail, too. I hope that's to keep it from getting torched.

It makes me feel better about this to see the horse has a live human rider, although he could be the type that participates in the Taming of the Bulls that we saw a few days ago

wolf · 01-25-2005, 08:12 PM

Which Anthony?

Saint Anthony of Padua (this is the "popular" one ... the Lost Things guy)

Saint Anthony of the Desert

(Oh man. there are actually 31 Saint Anthonies ... That's too much typing. Here's a list of patron saints, by name. )

Anthony of Padua and Anthony the Abbott both have associations to animals.

capnhowdy · 01-25-2005, 08:51 PM

It'd be cool on video.
Odds are: this guy busts his ass.
Or either he's a damn good rider.
Eat your heart out, Junior Bonner.......

xoxoxoBruce · 01-26-2005, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf

Which Anthony?

Saint Anthony of Padua (this is the "popular" one ... the Lost Things guy)

Saint Anthony of the Desert

snip

I noticed that both these Anthonys came from rich, powerful families and were chosen by God to do great things.
just like GW Bush.

Elspode · 01-26-2005, 12:43 PM

All in favor of riding Bush through flames on horseback, say "aye"!

xoxoxoBruce · 01-26-2005, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elspode

All in favor of riding Bush through flames on horseback, say "aye"!

How about a horse on Bushback?

Elspode · 01-26-2005, 10:16 PM

He could wear a 10 gallon Stetson...filled with 10 gallons of liquid oxygen, perhaps.

Senor Oso · 01-26-2005, 02:24 PM

I'm pretty sure that these people are taking the words "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" in an entirely different way than it was meant.

Griff · 01-26-2005, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senor Oso

I'm pretty sure that these people are taking the words "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" in an entirely different way than it was meant.

Aye.

01-25-2005, 11:35 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	1/25/2005: Saint Anthony's purification ritual Not much information is available on this annual festival in the village of Vilanova d'Alcolea near Castellon, Spain. The official caption suggests that Saint Anthony is the patron saint of animals and this is the "purification ceremony" section of the festival on his official Day. I'm not sure how a horse is purified by jumping through fire; a good round of antibiotics and better stall maintenance would be much more effective. And I'm not sure why the patron saint of animals winds up putting his beasts into a big bonfire. Seems like an effective patron saint would score a better contract, such as the Hindus have done for the cows, or the Buddhists for all critters in general. A round of severe googling turned up very little detail, other than Anthony's appearance at the same time in Sicily. These festivals sound like a great time, I want one: Ancient tradition has it that the saint, like Prometheus, stole into hell and brought back fire, so naturally the festivities revolve around a bonfire. Each town places different herbs and fruits atop the blaze, creating a unique aroma. Women emerge from their homes bearing sweets and dark fruity loaves of pane nigheddu, while men pass around bottles of wine and aquavit. Wow! I, personally, am all in favor of this kind of thing. I can taste the pane nigheddu now! I'm not sure about the community bottles, as I just got over a bout of illness, you know, wouldn't want another round of that.

01-25-2005, 11:44 AM	#2
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	c'mon everybody! "horse nuts roasting on an open fire, dipshits making your equine roast" __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

01-25-2005, 12:14 PM	#3
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	Looks like something akin to driving the animals 'twixt the balefires at Beltane (May Day, to the rest of you non-Pagans). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beltane __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

01-25-2005, 01:22 PM	#5
Troubleshooter The urban Jane Goodall Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 3,012	Just another party plagarized from the pagans right? __________________ I have gained this from philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. - Aristotle

01-25-2005, 08:12 PM	#8
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	Which Anthony? Saint Anthony of Padua (this is the "popular" one ... the Lost Things guy) Saint Anthony of the Desert (Oh man. there are actually 31 Saint Anthonies ... That's too much typing. Here's a list of patron saints, by name. ) Anthony of Padua and Anthony the Abbott both have associations to animals. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis Last edited by wolf; 01-25-2005 at 08:15 PM. Reason: added more stuff ...

01-25-2005, 12:31 PM	#7
magilla Belt Conveyor Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 67	Note that they have the horse's mane all bundled up in flowers. Presumably they did the same for the critter's tail, too. I hope that's to keep it from getting torched. It makes me feel better about this to see the horse has a live human rider, although he could be the type that participates in the Taming of the Bulls that we saw a few days ago

01-25-2005, 08:51 PM	#9
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	It'd be cool on video. Odds are: this guy busts his ass. Or either he's a damn good rider. Eat your heart out, Junior Bonner....... __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

01-26-2005, 12:43 PM	#11
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	All in favor of riding Bush through flames on horseback, say "aye"! __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

01-26-2005, 10:16 PM	#13
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	He could wear a 10 gallon Stetson...filled with 10 gallons of liquid oxygen, perhaps. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

01-26-2005, 02:24 PM	#14
Senor Oso Antagonistic Antagonist Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Los Angeles, CA, USA Posts: 22	I'm pretty sure that these people are taking the words "Chestnuts roasting on an open fire" in an entirely different way than it was meant.

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