Sant Antoni and els Tres Tombs

The festival is deeply rooted in Barcelona's Sant Antoni neighbourhood. The saint was an animal lover who is said to have cured a sick piglet when he was visiting the city. This explains why he is usually depicted with this unusual companion. The events held on 17th January include the blessing of pet animals and the procession of horse-drawn carriages which originally did three laps, tombs in Catalan, of the neighbourhood. Hence the name, Tres Tombs. The procession was first recorded in 1826.

Traditions that had died out have been revived in recent years, such as the raffle of a pig in association with the neighbourhood's pork butchers. New ones have also been added, such as the release of 150 doves, representing the number of wishes the city asks the saint to fulfil.