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Flames and Tradition: Spain's Controversial Horse Festival

1/21/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On January 16, 2026, San Bartolomé de Pinares, Spain, held the Las Luminarias festival in which horses galloped through flames to honor St. Anthony the Abbot.
Preparations included wrapping horses' tails in fire-resistant tape and applying glaze to manes.
Animal rights activists expressed concerns.
Locals say the horses are unharmed.
Madrid's tradition of blessing pets in churches shows diverse practices around animal care in Spain.

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Story summary

On January 16, 2026, San Bartolomé de Pinares, Spain, held the Las Luminarias festival in which horses galloped through flames to honor St. Anthony the Abbot.
Preparations included wrapping horses' tails in fire-resistant tape and applying glaze to manes.
Animal rights activists expressed concerns.
Locals say the horses are unharmed.
Madrid's tradition of blessing pets in churches shows diverse practices around animal care in Spain.