San Antonio Abad Festival

The celebration begins on the eve of Saint Anthony’s Day, January 16, with a particularly distinctive tradition: the lighting of a large bonfire in the town square. Many of the townspeople gather around the fire; the animals are blessed, and a community dinner is held in an atmosphere of fellowship and camaraderie. The evening continues with music and a street festival, transforming the cold January night into one of winter’s most eagerly anticipated festive events.

On January 17, the feast day of Saint Anthony the Abbot, a traditional Mass is celebrated in honor of the saint, followed by the distribution of molletes, a custom deeply rooted in Linares de Mora. Saint Anthony the Abbot, traditionally regarded as the protector of animals, holds a special place in the tradition of a town whose history has been closely linked to livestock farming and life on the farmsteads.

One of the most unique moments of the festival is the traditional “Tranza.” Residents make donations, which are later auctioned off, maintaining a community custom that is part of the celebration’s identity. The tradition also has an important element of participation and solidarity among the town’s residents.

The Festival of San Antonio is, therefore, much more than a religious celebration. The bonfire, the animals, the molletes, the Tranza, the community dinner, and the street festival form a set of traditions that connect today’s “Linares de Mora” with the way of life of its ancestors.

In the middle of January, when winter transforms the landscape of the Sierra de Gúdar, San Antonio also offers an opportunity to come together, share, and keep the spirit of community alive. It is a simple festival deeply rooted in the rural history of Linares de Mora, where the bonfire becomes, year after year, a symbol of togetherness and the continuity of a tradition passed down from generation to generation.