In the previous post we talked about the sanantonadas, one of the most beloved festivals by all the inhabitants of the region. In this we are going to make a special mention to the one of Mirambel, where, every few years, a dramatization of the life of San Antonio Abad, patron saint of animals and protagonist of the festival, is performed.
This event is one of the most interesting in the province. It has no fixed date or frequency, but when it is held, the neighbors get involved to the maximum.
The festival begins with preparations for the bonfire, gathering tree trunks and branches for the “zocarras” and the “barraca” or hut of the Saint. The latter is placed in the center of the square and will be set on fire at the end of the work.
Start of the show
Once this is done, the performance begins. The characters that will give life to the Saint and all those he will meet along the way, such as the botarga, the agostera, the clown or the señorito, go out into the street. All are represented by neighbors of the village and, in the past, the role was passed among the members of the same family.
They go through the corners of Mirambel representing small scenes until they reach the door of the church, where they are received by the parish priest, who blesses the animals. They continue with the play and it is at this point that demons and other characters offend and try to tempt the saint.
They continue touring the town with different scenes until they reach the square for the last act. There, the episode of the temptations of St. Anthony is interpreted, who renounces all of them and is introduced inside the “barrack”, which the demons will set on fire.
Throughout the play, we will meet a character who will have special importance, the shepherd. He is in charge of introducing the scenes, but he can also add a touch of humor with improvisation. He can interrupt the play at any time to make it more entertaining and amusing by telling local and regional anecdotes and referring to neighbors of the town or people he knows.
In 2023 we will once again enjoy this ancient and curious act. Don’t miss it!
