THE BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS PROMOTES RURAL RETREATS
The 17th January, Feast Day of Sant'Antonio Abate (not to be confused with the better known St. Anthony of Padua), sees a different kind of pilgrim flocking to the churches of big and small towns in Italy. Sant'Antonio Abate is the patron saint of animals, the special protector of rural communities, and following a long tradition, farmers and pet owners bring their animals to church for the annual blessing. A popular tradition claims that on the night of the 17th January, the animals acquire the faculty of (human) speech.
For practical reasons, the festival is now held on the nearest Sunday, so the colourful event took place on the 19th January 2025. This year, the Feast has a special significance. The rally in St. Peter's Square was organized by the Coldiretti (the national Italian Farmers' Association) and the Italian Breeders Association (AIA), under the theme “Seeds of Inclusion. The new welfare of the Italian Farm”. The aim was to highlight the vital role animals play in helping people with physical and mental difficulties through techniques like pet therapy, hippo therapy and plant cultivation, but in addition the concept of agriospizio was included. While the Agriasilo which offers day care for preschool children in country settings is now well established, the agriospizio is still limited. It aims to offer acquired an alternative to traditional retirement homes, with elderly guests accommodated in rural settings attached to farms where they could take part in local activities and cultivate their own garden plots.
Tel. +39.06. 4682414 https://caa.coldiretti.it
