Spain in-depth: Festivals
Moors and Christians – Festival
Moors and Christians - Spanish Fiesta
The Moors and Christians celebrations are religious celebrations that are recreated each year in many villages of the east of Spain. During these three or four days of celebration, the end of the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula in the XVI century is commemorated, after it was dominated for centuries by Muslim troops.
For tourists, the most spectacular thing of these festivals are the battles between Moors and Christians with colorful costumes and weapons of the time, scimitars, swords, cannons and muskets, to soar endlessly magical environments in medieval squares and in multiple Spanish castle that transport the visitors to the Middle Ages.
For tourists, the most spectacular thing of these festivals are the battles between Moors and Christians with colorful costumes and weapons of the time, scimitars, swords, cannons and muskets, to soar endlessly magical environments in medieval squares and in multiple Spanish castle that transport the visitors to the Middle Ages.
During the days of the festival, the people are actively involved in the recreation of the various battles that took place, for it is organized in troupes, some Moors and others Christian, with their captains and other officers who lead their armies. All of them, with majestic uniforms and respecting the ranks, armed with muskets which together with the strakes, makes battles a noisy place and smell of gunpowder. After the battle, the groups retire to their respective stalls to eat, drink and celebrate their holidays with friends and family.
As with any celebration in Levante, mascletás cannot be forgotten, the castle fireworks, and all kinds of events in the streets of the city like the processions in honor of the patron, and other shows like medieval markets on the streets and squares.
Some of the most famous resorts for their Moors and Christians can be, those of Alcoy in April, the International Tourist Interest like those of Villajoyosa, or otherwise the ones that were declared of National Tourist Interest like Villena, Almansa, Caudete, Bañeres, Alcolecha, Concetaina, Crevillente, Petrel, Elda, Onteniente, Caravaca de la Cruz, Peñiscola or Murcia. Or for its recreation on the coast like the El Campello, famous for making representation on the Carrer La Mar beach, of the disembarking Moor.
The Festival of Villajoyosa in July
One of the most colorful Moors and Christian festivals in Spain takes place in Villajoyosa. This festival has been celebrated for over 250 years and it traditionally begins on July 24th.
Different groups take the streets on this day wearing majestic dresses and are accompanied by the roar of festive music.
The most spectacular part of this festival takes place during the dawn of July 28th. Thirty boats with Berber pirates approach the beach. When they get to the shore the Christian troops await them and both armies recreate the fight from the shore to the castle
