Luminaries festival in Spain - where you can lead a horse to fire

Spectacular pictures have emerged from the Luminarias festival in Spain, where horses are ridden through bonfires. The festival, in San Bartolomé de Pinares, a small village 62 miles from Madrid, celebrates St Anthony, the patron saint of animals. Riders believe the smoke from the fire will purify the animals and protect them for the year.

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  1. It is unknown how the festival started; some believe it has origins in the Black Death, others think it started during a time when animals were falling ill in high numbers (Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Ge
  2. Local organisers insist that horses are not harmed during the festival (AP/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)
  3. The unusual display takes place in San Bartolome de Pinares, 62 miles from Madrid
  4. The festival takes place the eve before the official day of honoring animals in Spain (Photo by Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images)

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