Yesterday in Bigastro

Bigastro celebrates the day of San Anton. patron saint of animals, each year with a special mass and a benediction of animals that the townsfolk take along.

The mass used to be held inside the church with the blessing taking place in the doorway.

Traditionally, there is a raffle as well with a pair of live pigs being the prize one year.

Now, the mass is held outside and the raffle is for items that people might want more than a live pig.

In another twist this year, the statue of the saint was paraded around a short route of the town before mass.

The saying goes that the sun shines on the righteous and so it did yesterday. Only at the end of the benediction did heavy clouds appear and rain started to fall.