Andorra Parishes Celebrate Sant Antoni with Escudella, Blessings, and Cultural Events

Andorra's parishes are marking Sant Antoni with escudella distributions, animal blessings, markets, children's workshops, cultural shows, and live music, alongside ongoing exhibitions.

Escudella handouts feature prominently. In Andorra la Vella, the Confraria d’Escudellaires and Comú will distribute about 3,500 portions at 1pm in Plaça Guillemó for the 57th edition. La Massana starts with an 11am mass, noon popular markets, and 1pm escudella in Plaça de l’Església. Escaldes-Engordany offers its serving at 1pm in Plaça dels Dos Valires. Encamp revives its escudella and markets in Plaça de Sant Miquel. Canillo hosts 1pm Sant Antoni vianda after 1:30pm animal blessings and markets in Plaça del Telecabina.

Cultural events include Esbart Lauredià's 6pm showcase of initiation, children's levels 1 and 2, and youth groups in the vestibule of Centre Cultural Lauredià in Sant Julià de Lòria.

Children can join a 10:30am Portuguese storytelling session by Carina dos Santos, Goreti Escudeiro, and Carla Costa at Biblioteca Pública de Govern in Andorra la Vella. Sant Julià de Lòria's Escola d’Art runs "Following the Trail of Dinosaurs" stamping workshops from 10:30-11:30am and noon-1pm. Encamp's MW Museu de l’Electricitat offers a 4pm family shadow puppet workshop with recycled materials for take-home use.

Workshops span interests. Museu Casa Rull in La Massana hosts "Art&Té" from 10:30am-12:30pm, covering tea, Chinese painting, and calligraphy led by Lovedrinktea and Dolors Vila. A 10am wet collodion photography session in Govern d’Andorra's exhibition hall in Andorra la Vella explores the 19th-century technique for expeditions, architecture, and conflicts like the American Civil War. Escaldes-Engordany's Centre d’Art features a 5pm interactive "Funerary Ritual: Preparing for the Beyond" on Egyptian mummification, processions, and ancestor worship.

The night ends with Vibrand Music's 9pm funk, disco, swing, jazz, pop, and soul performance at Hotel Sant Gothard in La Massana.

Exhibitions complement the festivities. Escaldes-Engordany's Espai Caldes displays C215's "Figures of Emancipation" street art portraits honouring French freedom fighters until March 13. The Centre d’Art there shows "From Birth to Rebirth," archaeological pieces on ancient Egyptian daily life, until February 21. Andorra la Vella's Centre Cultural La Llacuna presents "The Nude and the Emotional Object," exploring human form and objects in drawing, until February 27. Bici Lab Andorra la Vella features "Cities at Human Scale" with Playmobil and mappings of car-free urban models until February 28. Govern d’Andorra's exhibition hall hosts "Pioneers 1884-1954: Andorra's First Photographers," drawing from archive collections of 11 authors and nine funds spanning 70 years, until March 7. Cal Federico in Canillo displays Naiara Escabias's "Breaths of Canillo" until March 31.