The Feast of Sant Antoni Abat had its big day this Sunday, with the passage of carriages and horses through the streets and squares of Martorell, the Three Tombs and the blessing of the animals. About thirty carts and carriages have been the protagonists of this traditional event, organized by the association of Friends of Sant Antoni, and which is celebrated all over Catalonia until the middle of March.
Today’s party brought together nearly 30 carriages and a total of 55 animals. The Friends of Sant Antoni Abat de Martorell have shown most of their floats, and have counted on the participation of other towns that are usually part of the procession, such as Igualada and Esparreguera.
Early in the morning, the Traginer breakfast took place in Maria Canela square. At the end, the horsemen, cavalry and carriages gathered to start the dressing and hitching. Around 11.30am, the march through the streets and squares of Martorell with the Symphonic Band started.
The treasurer of the Friends of Sant Antoni Abat de Martorell, Josep Vilella, explains that “the idea was to remove as many carts and animals as possible. For this reason, we spend days, weeks and months in contact with the people of this world, to make the party as pleasant and original as possible. Always maintaining the tradition of a very local and Martorellen day”.
Josep Vilella, tresorer Amics de Sant Antoni
As a novelty this year, the association of Friends of Sant Antoni Abat has shown, for the first time in Martorell, the cork cart, unique in Catalonia, and the drinks cart. Josep Vilella states that “these are carts that have already been rented and hired from us in other places because they also want to see them. They are unique and very original things.”
Josep Vilella, tresorer Amics de Sant Antoni
Around 1:00 p.m., one of the main events of the day began. Horsemen and carriages have arrived at the Church Square to begin the Three Tombs, with the blessing of the horses and mules. On this occasion, Mr. Rector was in charge of blessing the animals.
At noon, the party moved to El Progrés, where the International Cobla La Principal de La Bisbal enlivened the Concert-vermut, and later came the gala dance, with the same musical ensemble, which put the finishing and end to the celebration of the Feast of Sant Antoni Abat.
The party already started on Friday with the general assembly of the Friends of Sant Antoni, in the social premises of the organization, and the raffle for the boxes and tickets for the vermouth concert. On Saturday, from 6:00 p.m., Plaça de la Vila was the scene of one of this year’s novelties: the concert-recital with the Municipal School of Music.
At 6.30pm, the wind torches were lit from the Devil’s Bridge and a march was made to Plaça de la Vila, where the relay of the flag bearers took place – the Micorella Motor Club received the Club’s flag Ice Hockey Martorell-. Joaquim Massaneda, a member of the Micorella Motor Club, made the proclamation from the balcony of the Town Hall.
At night, the Teatre d’El Progrés hosted the concert ‘Two lands, a music…’, by the soprano and cellist Eulàlia Ara and the pianist Josep Maria Escribano. An appointment that, for the first time, has been included in the events of the Festa dels Tres Tombs.
Source: martorelldigital.cat
