Subscribe | UPI Odd Newsletter Subscribe WARSAW, Poland, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- A Roman Catholic priest in Poland performed the centuries-old tradition of blessing farm animals and pets Wednesday. The ceremony was conducted in Mikstat in western Poland, and has been done every Aug. 16 -- St. Roche Day -- for at least 200 years, Radio Polonia said. Advertisement St. Roche is believed to have protected townfolk from a plague epidemic early in the 18th century, the report said. Children carried hamsters, parrots and turtles and cats, while cows, dogs, horses and pigs also were paraded past the priest, who urged farmers to take care of their animals, the radio said.
