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Add holidays to our calendar: El Campello Moors & Christians Festival
The festival
is a historical performance of the Moors invading the city followed by the
Christian re-conquest.
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Moorish occupation and influence
Spain became
mostly Christian under the Romans, who were followed by Germanic tribes from
Europe called the Vandals and the Visigoths. The Visigoth rulers fought among
themselves, and in A.D. 711 Muslims from
Africa invaded Spain.
Islamic
culture spread across Spain, as Muslim rulers introduced new crops( rice,
saffron, citrus fruits, spices such as cinnamon) , irrigation systems, and
increased trading.They brought new techniques for architecture . Mathematics,
medicine , astronomy and philosophy became more advanced, peaking in the tenth
century – the golden age of Islamic rule in Spain.
In the year
1492, Christian kingdoms took the last part of Spain that had belonged to the
Moors. Boabdil, the last Moorish Leader of Granada, gave the city to King
Ferdinand of Aragon on 2 January 1492, and Christians now ruled all of Spain.
Moors and
Christians festivals in the Valencian Region.
In order
to celebrate the reconquest of the country by the Christians, many towns
still hold Moors and Christians Festivals . Most are held in the
Valencia region around Alicante.
Moors and
Christians is one of the most important festivals in the Alicante region with
thousands of participants and even more spectators.Accompanied by marching
bands, gunpowder and explosive fireworks, each town recreates the moment when
the Christians reclaimed the land and send the Moors away. It’s one
of the top events in the tourism calendar with visitors enjoying the colourful
parades, battles, fireworks, food and plenty of fun.
Moors and Christians festival in El Campello
The Moors and Christians in the
village of Campello began about 1950.The formation of the festival was in 1985
, today the Board of Moors and Christians of Campello is composed of over 1,300
partners who share in seventeen different troupes (associations ) . Likewise,
there are children who are part festive party but up to 14 years they are not
considered as partners. Last year there
were 3200 participants in the pardes and 8000 attendin public.
It is a festival which
takes place in El Campello from
the 12th to the 15th October , the
fiesta is held in honour of the patron saint, the Mare de Déu dels Desemparats
and takes place at the same time every year.
The festival commemorates
the capture of the city by the Moors and the Christian reconquest.
Different groups split into Christian or Moor legions to create a dramatic
interpretation of those turbulent times.
People who take part
in the festival are usually enlisted in local associations called comparses ( troupes who represent the Christian or Moor
legions) within which there are some that have
filaes in singular filà(rows).
Each year a morish king , an morish ambassador , a christian
king and a christian ambassador are chosen from each troupe partners.These
charges will be responsible for representing all the official acts of the Board
Festera parties that year. They are the main protagonists of the festive
events, and the responsibility lies with them and deserved applause. Note that
each year two ambassadors novice memorized the complete texts of the embassies
in Valencian language.
Program for 2018
The festival begins with the
correfocs(on 8th of October).
Valencian Community Day is
on 9th of October. This day is
celebrated in El Campello with the Children's Christians-Moors Parade . There
is a children's historical recreation of the Conquest of the city of Valencia
by King Jaume 1st at the Castle.
On Thursday, 11th of October the Moor and Christians' camp are installed on the beach , the festival lights are lit, and the Official opening speeches of the festival are
made.
The Moorish disembarkation is
on Friday, 12th of October.
At seven in the morning it is recreated the sighting of the Moors' fleet and lighting of the warning fires and sounding the bells to alert the citizens. As it gets light , the fleet slowly comes ashore with even more loud explosions and eventually a rather formalised mock battle takes place on the beach. By about 9:30am this event finishes with a parade of the Moorish force as they march towards the coastal defence tower which is the focus of the celebrations.
At seven in the morning it is recreated the sighting of the Moors' fleet and lighting of the warning fires and sounding the bells to alert the citizens. As it gets light , the fleet slowly comes ashore with even more loud explosions and eventually a rather formalised mock battle takes place on the beach. By about 9:30am this event finishes with a parade of the Moorish force as they march towards the coastal defence tower which is the focus of the celebrations.
Parades.
On Friday 12th October,
at 19:00pm there is the Christians-Moors
Parade . Huge parades of the Christians, followed by the parades of the Moors.
The streets are filled with Christians wearing fur, metallic helmets, armor and
costumes marked with a large red cross, holding silver swords and marching
proudly some on horseback, ready to fight against the Moors who also wear
medieval Arab costumes and curved swords.
Next day, on Saturday, 13th of
October, it is the Moors-Christians parade. Huge parades of the Moors followed by the parades of the
Christians.The various groups that make up the Moorish and Christian
factions march in procession proudly
according to giant drums tempo all wearing elaborate
costumes and holding mock weapons.
On Sunday, 14th of October,there
is a fancy dress parade, called “retreta”. It is a humour costume parade
that satirises or parodies current issues.
On Monday, 15th of October there
are religious acts in honour of Saint Theresa and Our Lady of the
"Desemparats".The last day of the festival begins with a
morning
Reveille and Bell ringing to signal the liberation/reconquest of the village of El Campello. Then, there is a Holy Mass in the Parish Church of Santa Teresa and after that there is a Flower offering to Our Lady of the “Desemparats”.The last afternoon finishes with a. Mascletà (noisy firecrackers) in honour of Saint Theresa. and the whole festival finishes with a magnificient Firework display
Reveille and Bell ringing to signal the liberation/reconquest of the village of El Campello. Then, there is a Holy Mass in the Parish Church of Santa Teresa and after that there is a Flower offering to Our Lady of the “Desemparats”.The last afternoon finishes with a. Mascletà (noisy firecrackers) in honour of Saint Theresa. and the whole festival finishes with a magnificient Firework display
Do you like our Moors and
Christians festival?
Are there re-enactments of
important battles in your country?
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