Mexican pets receive blessing on St. Anthony's Day

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Welcome to Mexico’s pet blessing ceremony

to mark St. Anthony's Day, the protector of animals

LOCATION: Mexico City

(SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HOUSEWIFE, SOFIA HERNANDEZ, SAYING:"In the city, we bring our pets to be blessed. In general, people around the country, where animals are kept for work in the countryside, also take donkeys, goats, horses and yokes to be blessed, so that God may be able to bless all animals.''

Pets are sprinkled with holy water

believed to protect them from danger and misfortune

The tradition was brought to Mexico by Franciscan monks in the 1500s