Each year on January 16, the eve of the festival of Saint Anthony, the town celebrates the traditional Luminarias festival. Purportedly held for five centuries, the origins of the festival trace back to a ritual purification to preserve the health of the horses in the village. Bonfires are lit in the central streets, and horses are forced to jump through the flames, with the smoke intended to protect the animals from disease. Dr. Joanna Swabe, Senior Director of Public Affairs at Humane Society International/Europe told Newsweek after 2019's festival: “It is ironic that to celebrate the feast day of the patron saint of domestic animals, horses are forced to take part in an event that is highly likely to cause them stress and fear. Horses are flight animals, extremely sensitive and skittish, whose natural instinct will be to avoid the raging bonfires. So to be forced to walk through them will be a terrifying experience.” As riders wait on the sides to ride through the fire, horses can be seen nervously stamping their feet and straining to get away from the flames. Juan Ignacio Codina of the Observatory of Justice and Animal Defense says: “There is no logic in forcing these animals into a stressful situation against their own nature.” Nick Weston agrees: “It beggars belief that in the 21st century horses are still being put through the ordeal and dangers of being forced to jump through huge bonfires to satisfy a human tradition that dates back to more primitive times. The notion that the poor horses are purified by this is superstitious nonsense—it is a cruel and outmoded ritual which the organizers should end.” The festival is a tradition deeply-rooted in Spanish culture. It's important to remember that like bull fighting and other similar traditions, many people don't want to let go of something that they feel was passed down to them by generations and needs to continue being passed on. But when a tradition is cruel and outdated, there can be modifications or changes to traditions. We’re also living in a very technologically advanced time. Horse do not have to literally be put through fire for people. It's cruel and unnatural. Sign this petition: asking Carlos García González, Governor of the province of Avila, Spain, where this event is held, end the cruelty.
