Festivities of San Antonio Abad and the Three Tombs 2025

There are many Catalan towns that celebrate festivals related to field work and pack animals for Sant Antoni Abat, patron saint of muleteers and round-footed animals. These celebrations are known as Fiestas de San Antonio, or in some places as the Tres Tombs or Tonis.

The tradition consists of having a parade of cars and animals and going around the town where the festival is celebrated three times. Over the years, especially after the industrial revolution, animals and mainly horses have stopped being the great agricultural workers, giving way to tractors and other machinery. The tradition has been adapting to the moment, but without forgetting its main protagonists, the animals. Starting in the second half of the 20th century, the Three Tombs festival has become a traditional festival where it is shown what ancient carriages were like or how animals were tamed.

In the past, they walked three times around a space where a large bonfire made of green branches burned. Once Christianity has a greater presence, the tours take place around the church of San Antonio or, failing that, the image of the Saint, from where the blessing of the animals is done. The parade of decorated carriages is accompanied by other events and in many places it is customary to bring pets such as cats, dogs and birds to be blessed.

When is San Antonio Abad or the Three Tombs celebrated in 2025?

The Three Tombs festival is celebrated every year on January 17, which is the day of Sant Antoni Abad. In 2025, January 17 falls on a Friday, therefore most towns celebrate their Tres Tombs festival on the weekend of January 18 to 19, although some decide to do it a week before or a week after.

Take out your agenda and save this date to visit some of the municipalities that celebrate the Sant Antoni or Tres Tombs Festivals in Catalonia: Alcanar, Barcelona, Ascó, Vila-seca, Balsareny, Falset, Taradell, Valls, Igualada, Berga, Inglesola, Vilanova i la Geltrú, Caldes de Montbui, Esparreguera, Ripollet or Manlleu

Below we leave you information about the Sant Antoni and Tres Tombs Festivals that are celebrated in Catalonia.