Feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot in l’Estartit 2025
Celebrate the most heart-warming winter tradition on the Costa Brava
On Sunday 19 January 2025, the port of l’Estartit will host one of the most eagerly awaited celebrations of the winter: the Feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot, patron saint of animals.
This is a religious and popular festival deeply rooted in Catalan-speaking villages, where families, neighbours and visitors gather to bless their pets and farm animals and enjoy a festive atmosphere steeped in tradition.
Origin and meaning of the festival
Saint Anthony the Abbot lived between the 2nd and 4th centuries and, according to Christian tradition, was a man who showed great love and respect for animals, with whom he lived in harmony in the desert.
For this reason, every year, his feast day is celebrated with the traditional blessing of animals, asking for health and protection for them.
Saint Anthony the Abbot is also considered the patron saint of farmers, mule drivers and butchers, trades historically linked to working with animals.
This festival, deeply rooted in Catalan culture, is considered the winter festival par excellence, a prelude to carnival and a symbol of the cultural and ethnological heritage of the area.
San Antonio Abad Festival Programme 2025:
- 12:30 p.m. Pet gathering.
- 1 p.m. Parade through the streets of l’Estartit.
- 1:15 p.m. Blessing of pets and their owners.
For more information, please consult the complete programme on the “Agenda Torroella” website.
Pets are welcome at our apartments in l’Estartit, Sa Gavina. We know they are part of the family, so we want them to enjoy their holidays too.
Take the opportunity to participate in the Festival of Saint Anthony the Abbot 2025 and experience a different kind of weekend with your pet in l’Estartit, enjoying the sea, the promenade and the local atmosphere.
