Feast of San Antón

Description

16 January marks the start of the Feast of San Antón, the main festivities in honour of Arquillos's patron saint. These are hugely important festivities for the people of Arquillos, given their devotion to the Saint. This day sees the opening address of the festivities.

Afterwards, the last day of the Novena is celebrated, and at its close, the traditional bonfires of San Antón are lit in the Plaza de la Fuente. This Feast of San Antón features the distinctive character of "El Pelotero", one of the gems of the province's folklore, who, dressed in a comic costume, whips young and old alike with a lash that has an espadrille tied to the end of its cord.

This curious character is played by someone with a vow to fulfil, and his costume is repaired and kept throughout the year by the family of María Momblanc, a descendant of the settler Vicente Momblanc, who moved from the Alicante town of Catamarruch to settle in Arquillos with his family in the 18th century. "El Pelotero" is a mocking depiction of the devil, and his presence at the festival recalls the temptations San Antón faced in the desert.