Spain: Luminarias festival - men ride horses through fire

Friday 17 January 2014 15:20 GMT

A man rides a horse through a bonfire as part of a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, about 100 km west of Madrid

In pictures: Luminarias festival in Spain - men ride horses through fire

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1/10In pictures: Luminarias festival in Spain - men ride horses through fire

In pictures: Luminarias festival in Spain - men ride horses through fire

Spain

A man rides a horse through a bonfire as part of a ritual in honor of Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals, in San Bartolome de Pinares, about 100 km west of Madrid

In pictures: Luminarias festival in Spain - men ride horses through fire

Spain

A man rides a horse with a child through the flames during the 'Luminarias' annual religious celebration on the night before Saint Anthony's, patron of animals

In pictures: Luminarias festival in Spain - men ride horses through fire

Spain

A woman falls with her horse as they go through the flames during the "Luminarias" annual religious celebration on the night before Saint Anthony's, patron of animals

In pictures: Luminarias festival in Spain - men ride horses through fire

Spain

A horse and rider jump over a burning pyre in the central Spanish village of San Bartolome de Pinares

In pictures: Luminarias festival in Spain - men ride horses through fire

Spain

A man prepares to ride through the flames on his horse during the 'Luminarias' annual religious celebration on the night before Saint Anthony's, patron of animals, in the village of San Bartolome de los Pinares, about 100 km (62 miles) northwest of Madrid

In pictures: Luminarias festival in Spain - men ride horses through fire

Spain

According to tradition that dates back 500 years ago, people ride their horses through the narrow cobblestone streets of this small village to purify the animals with the smoke of the bonfires

In pictures: Luminarias festival in Spain - men ride horses through fire

Spain

A horse and rider pass through a burning pyre in the central Spanish village of San Bartolome de Pinares

In pictures: Luminarias festival in Spain - men ride horses through fire

Spain

Since time immemorial, the horses' owners have conditioned their beasts to pass through the flames marking a religious folklore deeming the process will cleanse the village of disease

In pictures: Luminarias festival in Spain - men ride horses through fire

Spain

People gather around a fire during the 'Luminarias' annual religious celebration on the night before Saint Anthony's, patron of animals, in the village of San Bartolome de los Pinares

In pictures: Luminarias festival in Spain - men ride horses through fire

Spain

A cat is seen on the street before the 'Luminarias' annual religious celebration on the night before Saint Anthony's, patron of animals, in the village of San Bartolome de los Pinares

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