The Blessing of the Animals

On January 17th Mexico celebrates the Feast of St Anthony the Abbot, a hermit-saint who died in the deserts of Egypt on January 17th in the fourth century. Legend has it that during his periods of prayer and fasting in the desert his only companions were the animals so on this day animals are brought to the churches throughout Mexico to be blessed.

The church in the Plaza Civica is prepared to bless any animal you bring as you can see from these photos I took from this year and last year. Lots of birds and dogs, a Makeda look-alike and even a hedgehog!





This little guy had a tiny turtle in his bucket.



We went with our friends Yolanda and Victor and their two miniature Schnauzers , Dumb and Dumber. (Don't ask me which is which.)

2008 2007

Next year we want to go to the countryside where the churches get more of the farm animals and horses.