On 16 January, in honour of the feast of San Antonio Abad the Chisco de San Antón is celebrated. This is an ancient tradition in which the hermit saint was asked to care for and protect animals.
This is a custom widespread throughout different municipalities in La Alpujarra region and has pagan origins. The villages lived off agriculture and, due to the rugged terrain, many pack animals were used to plough the land, as companion animals, for livestock and as stable animals for subsistence.
Now, even though farming has been mechanised, wherever it is permitted, San Antón remains much loved.
In the villages of Barranco del Poqueira (Poqueira Ravine), near Bubión and Capileria, during the days leading up to this festival, firewood, tree pruning waste, dry branches, brushwood, or anything else that can be burned in the large bonfire, or chisco as it is called, is collected.
Around the bonfire, up to three in different parts of the village, locals and visitors from other villages gather to chat around the fire to combat the winter cold, while potatoes, meat and local cured meats are roasted on the embers
