Las Luminarias: The Spanish festivals where horses gallop through flames • FRANCE 24 English

riding fearlessly through the Flames for centuries this Village in the mountains of central Spain has celebrated the Las Luminarias Festival over a hundred horses ran through the streets of San bartolome de pinares lit up with dozens of bonfires this year my children brought me to see the lights as a surprise it's been 55 years since I last saw them so I'm really thrilled I'm having a great time and they've given me an incredible birthday incredibly held on the eve of Saint Anthony the patron saint of animals locals believe that the smoke will purify and protect

the horses for the year to come it's thought the festival dates back to the 18th century when an epidemic broke Out Among the area's horses vets and firefighters are in attendance and locals say the horses aren't harmed the animal like all animals is a little frightened at first but after a bit it passes you feel a jumble of emotions that is very difficult to describe though Riders do sometimes come off accidents are rare the event draws hundreds of onlookers to witness a tradition that is still extremely important to Residents who've celebrated for Generations [Music]