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Pedro Armestre / AFP - Getty Images
A horseman jumps over a bonfire in the central Spanish village of San Bartolome de Pinares to open the celebrations for the feast of Saint Anthony, patron saint of animals, on Monday Jan. 16, 2012.
Daniel Ochoa De Olza / AP
A man rides a horse through a bonfire in San Bartolome de Pinares, Spain, Monday, Jan. 16, 2012.
On the eve of Saint Anthony's Day, hundreds ride their horses trough the narrow cobblestone streets of the small village of San Bartolome during the "Luminarias," a tradition that dates back 500 years and is meant to purify the animals with the smoke of the bonfires and protect them for the year to come.
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Man, every time I see something involving Spanish people and animals it seems like it involves incredible cruelty to the animal. That's just an observation, don't confuse it with racism. The riders are not nearly as brave as the horses.
Vegas_Rage - I agree with you that the riders are not nearly as brave as the horses; horses are naturally afraid of fire. While this may be "amazing" to watch/see, it is actually cruel. It is essentially covering someone who is afraid of snakes, with snakes. I hope to God the Patron Saint of Animals is protecting these horses' mental/emotional well-being (along w/ the physical) through the course of this torture.
agreed....The spanish really know how to take animal cruelty to the next level. Can we say bull killing? Sorry if you dress fancy it's not really killing...
absolutely disgusting. i can't believe this. how about these "men" go through the fire themselves. i'm going to hug my dogs.
If a person wants to go threw a fire then that's their choice, but don't involve animals that does not have a choice.
If a person wants to go through then ok, but don't make an animal that has no choice. I wish people would quit using animals in this way.
How is this any different than a circus act? Tigers jumping through flaming hoops etc. I'm not saying I necessarily agree but the very fast speed at which the horses are going to jump that mean its not going to hurt the horse or rider. A lot like passing your hand through a candle flame.
Can't they just get a priest to bless them instead of inflicting them with 3rd degree burns. Who 500 years ago had this bright idea.