17 January is the feast of Sant Antoni Abat (Saint Anthony the Abbot), del Porquet, patron saint of domestic animals. Ontinyent's farmers and livestock keepers have celebrated it for centuries. The liveliest celebration began in the 18th century in the Poble Nou, the farming quarter that grew around the Concepció hermitage (the Ermiteta), and it is considered the most traditional of all Ontinyent's festivals. The main events take place a few days after 17 January.
Fire, animals and lanterns
Bonfires are built in the street, with a bigger one in the Plaça del Barranquet. They are all lit after the crowded blessing of the animals, who come with their owners to collect the garrofeta, and the blessing of the bread. Then comes the Retreta, a parade of hundreds of lanterns made by the saint's Llumeners.
Market, dance and fire run
The porrat, a market of traditional treats —toasted chickpeas, dates, palm hearts...— fills the streets. Then comes the dansà, the busiest of Ontinyent's seven traditional dances, to the sound of drum and dolçaina (shawm), followed by the correfoc (fire run) and an open-air party.
The saint's day
Morning music, sung mass and the pig parade —the pigs are raffled at night. In the afternoon, a parade of farm motocarts from which children throw confetti and sweets, the procession, the pig raffle and fireworks.
