Tag Archives: Moors and Christian festival

Moors and Christians Parade in Villena

September 11, 2017 chaput@live.com

We were invited by our friend Felipe to go and see the Moors and Christians Fiesta parade in Villena with him and his mom. They had front row balcony seats for the parade. The parade is one of the most famous and spectacular Moors and Christian parades in Spain.

We arrived in the quaint town of Villena at around 4 p.m. There were vehicles parked everywhere and it was difficult to find a parking spot. We parked around five blocks from the center of town and walked slowly towards the main street of Villena.

Shelley and Carmen-Maria walking towards the center of Villena

As we walked along the streets there were large crowds of people all heading towards the center of town.

Crowds of people walking towards the center of town.

As we walked through the streets we came across groups of people participating in the parade. They were dressed up, some were in very elaborate costumes. We stopped to have our picture taken with one group of “Moors” dressed up for the parade.

Bev, Shelley, Carmen-Maria, and Ray with parade participants in the Moors and Christian Festival in Villena, Spain

We arrived at the center of town and met Felipe’s friend, José Luís Valero. José had seats at the very front of the parade route for us.

José was a famous “Cabo” for comparsa andaluces group. He won many awards and in fact, there was a song composed for him which is used in the parade every year. José was a great host and was very energetic and fun.

José, Bev, and Carmen-Maria at the parade

José treated us like family and provided drinks and made the parade even more enjoyable. We had the best seats to see the parade up close.

Shelley, Ray, and Carmen-Maria sitting at the front watching the parade

The parade was massive with over 12,000 people who participated in it. There were seven groups that represent the Moorish, and seven groups which represent the Christian. Each one of these groups was made up of several hundred male and female participants. We watched as groups representing the Moors marched by wearing beautiful and ornate costumes.

Female parade participants dressed in Moorish costumes.

Males dressed in Moorish costumes in the parade

Each group of “Moors” marching in the parade had their own specific costume design. They also had bands following behind each group playing choreographed music. It was an impressive display by the participants of the parade. At the front of each section, there was a head person called a “Cabo” leading the group. They strutted in elaborate and deliberate moves making the march quite impressive.

“Cabo” doing different moves throughout the parade

There were horses, camels, and donkeys in the parade as well. Some of the horses would stand on their hind legs and perform along the parade route.

“Cabo” on horseback leading a group in the parade

Cabo on a camel leading a group in parade

We watched the different groups march in the parade, each group with their own unique and beautiful costumes. Some of the costumes cost over 15,000 euros for each one.

Parade participants in Moors and Christian Parade

A Cabo leading a group of females in parade

One of the amazing costumes in the Moors and Christian parade

A costume with feathers and gold material

Some of the costumes were very detailed and stunning to see. Some of the costumes were pieces of art adorned with feathers or with other unique items.

Even the back of the costumes had very ornate and beautiful decorations.

View of the rear of some of the costumes.

The Parade started at 4:30 p.m. and we stayed until 8:30 p.m. and the Moors section of the parade was still going on. The entire parade last in excess of six hours. There were so many beautiful costumes and great music from the many different bands. Below is a small collection of photos from the Moors section of the Parade.

The many bands that played specific songs for each group were also very enjoyable. We watched and listened in awe as the parade just continued for hours. We put together a short video of some of the parade.

It was a very surreal feeling being able to be so close to the parade. We had front row seats with a well-known “Cabo” José, which made the event even more memorial. To say that the parade was amazing would be an understatement. It was spectacular and beautiful, something we will remember for a long time.

“adios y que tenga un gran dia”

Spain

The Christian/Moors Museo in Alcoy

January 22, 2017 chaput@live.com

The town of Alcoy or (Alcoi) is known for their annual Christian and Moor Fiesta. It is one of the oldest festivals of this kind in Spain. The fiesta original began (it is believed) the year after the battle in 1277. It has been internationally known and declared of International tourist Interest, since 1980. The three-day event consists of parades, music, and reenactments of the battles between the Christians and the Moors. They wear elaborate costumes, ride horses and use replicated weapons and fireworks as part of the reenactment. The Alcoy festival commemorates the battle between the Christians and Moors which was fought in 1276.

We went to the Christian/Moors museum in Alcoy, it is situated in a modern three-story building. We went to the third floor and began our visit eventually going down to the first level. Our first stop was in a small theater to view a movie of the event. Below are a few images from the video depicting the activities of the Fiesta.

Images from the reenactment of the Christians and Moors Battle

We watched the video which had parts of the amazing reenactment of the battle and some history of the event. There were also mannequins in costumes situated in the theater.

Ray in front of the costumed mannequins in theater

We then walked through the museum admiring the exhibits and the ornate costumes. On the second floor, we came to a large room with costumes that were used in the fiesta over the years. There were costumes for the children of the fiesta.

Costumes used in the Alcoy Christian and Moors Festival

The displays were very impressive and each mannequin had an information plaque depicting the year it was used in the fiesta.

Some of the older costumes used in the fiesta

There were also adult costumes on display from different years of the fiesta. There were rows and rows of very impressive and ornate costumes. We took our time and walked the rows of displays. Below are a few images of the costumes. There are even a few cameo appearances in some of the photos.

Adult costumes on display of the fiesta in Alcoy.

Costumes on display from the Alcoy fiesta

The costumes were extremely ornate and very impressive.

We then went to the next level of the museum where we saw some of the exhibits on the making of the costumes. There is a very detailed and complex process for the creation of the costumes. Every year the “Boatos” which loosely translates to mean “the pageantry designers” create new designs for the important roles in the fiesta. They conceptualize the sketch, choose the materials and colors and coordinate all the artisans that take part in its creation. Then the new costumes is created for the fiesta.

Design images for the costumes of the fiesta

Some of the materials and jewelry used in the making of the costumes

There was also a meeting room which is used for the organization. The room is also decorated with costumes and images from the festival.

Meeting room for the organization of the fiesta.

The museum also had on display artifacts and old books of the history of the Christian and Moor fiesta. The first recorded photograph of the fiesta is dated back to 1876.

Historical photographs of the Alcoy fiesta

There were historical books, art and other documentation depicting the long history of the fiesta.

Painting in the Christian/Moor museum in Alcoy

The visit to the Alcoy museum was very interesting. We enjoyed walking through the museum admiring the costumes and reading about the history of the fiesta. It is amazing to see how they maintain the history of a battle between the Christians and the Moors that occurred in 1276.

“Adios y que tenga un grand dia”

Spain

Christians and Moors Battle

October 23, 2016 chaput@live.com

We awoke early and took the Tram to El Campello, a city approximately 20 minutes away from Alicante. We went early to attended the beginning of the Moors and Christian festival which started at 7 am. We arrived to find a large crowd of people already lined up along the beach.

img_20161012_074812918 — Crowds of people lined up along the beach to watch the reenactment of the Battle

The festival which is held every year to observe the patron saint, the Mare de Déu dels Desemparats. The events are recreated to depict the history of the Moorish occupation of the area between 700 and 1400 AD.

img_20161012_074936592 — Dawn with the reenactment of the Christian and Moor battle.

The beginning of the festival includes the reenacted of the arrival of the Moorish army by boat. As they approach the shore of El Campello in a flotilla of boats, torches are lit, cannons fire and musket shots rings out.

img_20161012_081510186_hdr — Reenactment of the Moors landing in Spain

When they arrived at the shore, the battle continued on the beach. They fought each other in a choreographed battle with swords and on horseback. It was truly an exciting and amazing thing to watch.

img_20161012_075805286_hdr — Landing on the beach start of moors and Christian reenactment.

We watched the battle for approximately 45 minutes before the reenactment moved along the shoreline to the castle where the next leg of the reenactment begins.

img_20161012_100320069 — The king in the reenactment

The Moors and Christians face off at the castle in a long speech in Spanish. Unfortunately, we could not understand what was being said, however, it was very interesting to watch.