As the almond trees come into flower, the cold january winds scatter their pink white blossoms throughout the campo. The village of Canillas de Albaida and its neighbours Competa, Archez and Salares follow the tradition of San Anton, (st Anthony) the patron saint of the animals of the village.

The Pensionistas bar, (to be found behind the old post office, behind the town hall), is home to an old photo of the village: tiny white houses set between  ploughed fields. Las Bestias,as the old folk call them; the mules and the donkeys, have for centuries been essential to the local culture.

Hence the fiesta de San Anton is a great occasion .The sunday morning, of the second weekend in january, the riders and horses begin to arrive from the surrounding villages. For some it is one of the opportunities during the year to meet up with other families and old friends who share a common interest in the breeding, training and sale of the noble creatures.

During the morning, a mass is celebrated, in the saints honour ,in the church ”Nuestra Señora de la Expectacion”, to be found in the plaza. As the people carry the saints statue through the streets it is followed by an entourage of people and animals all dressed in their finery.

The procession winds its way through the lower half of the village and makes its way up to the traditional place of the “blessing of the animals” held in the car-park, commonly known as ”el llano “(the flat place).

In “el llano”, the horses and riders line up to charge through the holy water the priest throws to the air, as he utters his blessings. After the horses follow the other animals, the birds, the dogs, the cats, the piglets, lambs and baby goats.

Once all are blessed, everyone is in good humour and ready for the platters laden with traditional local delights, chorizo, morcilla and callos, (spicy sausage, black pudding and pigs trotter stew). All are locally made and served by the town hall. Music and dance continues late into the evening.