Festa de Sant Antoni

Happy New Year followers!

After having a busy festive period with my family and friends in Scotland, it was time to return to Spain. I arrived back hot, sweaty and tired last Thursday after twelve hours of travelling on planes, trains and automobiles.

Now I’m settled back with my host family and at school as well. Despite misbehaving kids, I really enjoy the job and I’m thankful I get to experience another culture at the same time. This week has passed and now it’s the weekend. But it isn’t just any weekend. Oh no. This weekend is celebrating Sant (Saint) Antoni.

Now, who is Saint Antoni, I hear you say? Well he was the patron saint of animals and every year on January 17^th, he is celebrated with a Memorial Day or feast day. In Anglés, it was a memorial weekend. Today (Saturday) the square in Plaça de la Vila, outside my host family’s house was filled with exhibitions, stalls and some farm animals. There was a beautiful beige, brown and white pony (I wasn’t sure of the type) and seven sheep huddled together in pens for people to see. There were also various types of chicken, which clucked and squawked amongst the visitors. The streets of Anglés had various stalls selling different produce including meat, cheese, churros and other knick knacks such as jewellery.

I walked around the town with my host family, admiring the animals and wandering around the stalls. Julia, my six year old host sister wanted to stroke the pony, but it wasn’t coming near her. However as soon as the pony came close to her, she grabbed its head and started to stroke it. I was worried because the pony could have bit her! There’s no fear in that girl!

I went back to the house for lunch and by that time Marta and Alex returned from a waterpolo match. We all went down to the square and watched a festival of dance which included jazz, hip hop and belly dancing. I was mesmerised by the belly dancers, who in one routine used beautiful translucent butterfly wings, with fairy lights on them. It truly was an entrancing experience. It was getting pretty chilly by the time the dancing was finished, so I headed back to the house. While pushing my way through the crowds, I jumped at the sound of a drumbeat. A group of people were playing drums while dancing rhythmically to the beat. I stood and watched for a few minutes, then returned to the house where I watched the rest of the festival from the third floor where I stay. It was really exciting and made this little town spring to life. I’m excited to see what the next few months bring in this Spanish adventure.