There are quite a few cultural celebrations in Barcelona throughout the year. Sant Antoni is typically celebrated in Catalonia in January. It is the most important festival of Mallorca, with main celebrations on the 16th and 17th of January.
In this blog post you will learn about the History of Sant Antoni Festival and what to expect from the party in Barcelona.
The history of Saint Anthony the Abbot/Great
Sant Antonius was a christian Egyptian Monk. He conquered the temptations of the devil with fire. He lit a fire and walked over the embers. A way to distract himself from the temptations. Furthermore, he is also a patron saint of the animals. That’s why on the 17th, many people bring animals to the town square to have them blessed.The festivities are around the anniversary of the monk’s death, January 17th.
Sant Antoni in Barcelona – the Correfoc
In mid January, you can find various events belonging to the Sant Antoni festivals.
I went in January 2023 to the Sant Antoni Festival in Barcelona. To be exactly the Correfoc – the fire run. Although I’m not a big fan of fireworks, I have to admit I liked it. If you are in Barcelona in January, you should definitely go there. It is a unique cultural experience, also the people which I was with sum up to this experience.
It starts at Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia. First, they play traditional music and their huge puppets are displayed in dances, then the fire show begins. Make sure you wear something that you really like. My hat and scarf got holes from the embers. Costumed people and dragon figures spray fireworks-like sparks through the crowd.
After a while of the show, the parade starts. Which leads from Placa de la Vila de Garcia to Placa de la Virreina. Part of the parade are the people in costumes spraying sparks and groups with their drums.
It was fantastic to walk through the narrow streets like this. Feeling so powerful with the noisy parade.
From Sa Pobla to Garcia – The organization of the festival
What’s also important to know is that the Sant Antoni festival is organised by people of Sa Pobla, Mallorca. That’s why it also has the name “From Sa Pobla to Garcia”. They organise it in the big city because they do it so well in their own village. So Barcelona wants the real deal and assigns the organisation to the people of Sa Pobla. Where the Sant Antoni is literally celebrated the whole month. I didn’t experience it there, however when I lived there for a few months lots of people told me how special the celebration is.
Nevertheless, if you are only visiting Barcelona at the end of January, it is truly a unique way to experience the local culture by attending the Sant Antoni festival.
The festival continues way after midnight at the Placa de la Virreina. There is a bonfire but the crowd of people made it difficult to get close to the bonfire. People started to dance to the rhythm of the drums. Later on, musicians started to perform on the stage.
The Spaniards really know how to celebrate. It was a fun evening with great people.
This year the fire run is on January 21st of January at Jardinets de l’Alguer on
Avinguda Mistral from 8:15 pm to 10 pm.
