Until this Sunday the city of Madrid is immersed in the celebration of the festivity of the patron saint of animals -whose program you can consult in this article-. However, the celebration extends far beyond the capital and a municipality just 50 kilometers away celebrates the date with a bonfire for San Antón.
The City Council of Santorcaz, a municipality in Madrid with less than 1,000 inhabitants, has decided to resume the tradition of the neighbors according to which they light bonfires on these dates. They do so “in order to recover the tradition that in recent years has been lost,” as explained by the consistory torcuato in a proclamation.
It will be a single common bonfire that will be installed in the Plaza Juan Carlos I and will remain lit between 18h and 23:59h this Thursday, January 16. On the other hand, anyone who wishes may make their own barbecue (food and drink are at the expense of each).
A bonfire for San Antón: historical tradition in Santorcaz
According to the Town Hall of the municipality of Santorcaz, it is customary, “since time immemorial”, that the neighbors gather by neighborhoods to light bonfires every January 16.
Tradition dictates that they burn “objects in honor of San Antón so that he will protect the animals, so important to carry out some traditional work in the village”.
On the other hand, in view of the bonfire to be held this afternoon-evening, the City Council has indicated that “will be prepared if necessary the fire intervention vehicle with which the City Council has”.