In a breathtaking and fiery spectacle, horses charged through towering walls of flame in a small Spanish village this weekend, continuing a ritual that is centuries old.
A Fiery Tribute to the Patron Saint of Animals
The dramatic event took place on Friday 16 January 2026 in the village of San Bartolome de Pinares. Locals and visitors gathered to witness the annual Luminarias festival, where riders guide their horses through and over large bonfires. This unique tradition is held to honour St. Anthony the Abbott, the patron saint of animals.
Believers hold that the smoke and flames from the purifying fires bless the animals and protect them from illness throughout the coming year. The ritual, deeply rooted in local faith and culture, transforms the village's cobbled streets into a dramatic, smoke-filled arena.
Ancient Ritual Meets Modern Photography
The powerful scenes were captured in a striking photo gallery curated by editors from the Associated Press (AP). The images show courageous horses and their riders galloping directly through the intense heat and light, creating a visual testament to a tradition that has survived through generations.
Despite concerns from animal rights groups in modern times, participants and villagers fiercely defend the custom. They insist the horses are not harmed, citing the animals' careful preparation and the swift nature of the leap through the flames. For the community, it remains a vital and proud expression of their heritage.
A Tradition Forged in History
The origins of the Luminarias date back hundreds of years, to a time when disease among livestock could devastate a rural community. Seeking divine intervention, villagers turned to St. Anthony, a 4th-century Egyptian monk known as the father of monasticism and a protector of animals.
The celebration always occurs on the eve of St. Anthony's Day, which is marked on 17 January. While Spain has modernised, this village has tenaciously clung to its fiery homage, ensuring that the crackle of the flames and the thunder of hooves continue to echo each January.
