THE AMAZING FESTIVAL WHERE THEY CELEBRATE THE PATRON SAINT OF ANIMALS... BY RIDING HORSES THROUGH FIRE

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 12:29 PM on 17th January 2011

To the sound of drums and bagpipes, horses leap through flames.

But what appears to be a scene from a film about the apocalypse is actually an annual tradition in the small Spanish village of San Bartolome de los Pinares.


A man rides his horse through flames on Sunday night during the Luminarias religious celebration on the eve of Saint Anthony's Day


The celebration takes place in the village of San Bartolome de los Pinares, about 100 km (62 miles) north west of Madrid


This horse reared up on his hind legs as his hooves hit the burning cinders

In honour of the patron saint of animals, men ride their horses through bonfires every year on the eve of Saint Anthony's Day as part of the Luminarias religious celebration.

Despite the danger such an activity might pose to the animals, the riders actually take part in the fiery festival for reasons of purification and protection.


According to tradition, people from the area ride their horses through the fire to purify the animals


This man had to escape the flames after he fell into the bonfire from his horse

Locals insist that the animals are never hurt, and instead they are protected for the coming year by the smoke and flames.

One man took a tumble though as his horse tried to skip the fire dance and he was thrown from the animal.

The tradition dates back about 500 years.


A rider closed his eyes to the ash but didn't even wear gloves for protection as he ran his animal through the fire


Flames from the massive pyres shot high into the night sky

Residents of the village, 62 miles northwest of Madrid, gather tree branches and build the pyres for days leading up to the January 16th night-time tradition.

Riders guide their horses into the flame as part of a jumping tradition that lasts until midnight, when the riding stops.

But the drinking and eating last until dawn.


Some of the animals were clearly unhappy about riding into the flaming pyre


This boy covered his face from the smoke and flames as he rode through. Believers insist neither people nor animals are hurt at the celebration


The fire jumping stopped at midnight, when the bonfire became a barbecue for the celebration's food

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1347858/Luminarias-festival-Spain-Celebrating-patron-saint-animals-riding-horses-FIRE.html