You wouldn’t normally expect people to bring food or animals into mass with them, but there are always times for an exception. Here are a couple of bizarre Catholic feasts to look out for in the coming days.
Feast of San Antonio Abad
On January 17th, befuddled dogs, quetzals, cows, and other animals will parade across Mexico and taken to the nearest churches for a blessing from local priests. Owners of the animals usually make donations to the church in honor of the feast of San Antonio Abad, the patron saint of domestic animals.
What’s interesting is the contrast in how the feast is celebrated by country. Other Latin countries, like Spain, light giant bonfires all over their cities, where they then proceed to eat and drink till they’ve had their fill.
Festa das Fogaceiras (Feast of the Bread Hats)
There’s something strange about the hundreds of hats being donned by the children of Santa Maria da Feira. A closer look would reveal that the hats are in fact loaves of bread…or cake.
On the 20th of January, local youth of this small Portuguese city march through the streets bearing decorated baskets filled with carbohydrates. The children must voyage to the city’s church, where they will deliver their coveted bread hats. This walk is completed each year in order to fulfill a vow made by Saint Sebastian over 500 years ago.
In the 16th century, Saint Sebastian promised to rid Santa Maria de Feira of the black plague. Ever since, a procession of delivering Fair Fogaca (a type of bread) to him, and now the church, has been held in honor of his vow.
What happens if they don’t bring the bread? Legend has it that once the tradition was broken for four years, and the plague returned…now they make sure to carry that bread. So if anyone isn’t feeling well on January 20th, bread hats are an order!
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