Moros y Cristianos (in Spanish) or Moros i Cristians (in Valencian), literally means Moors and Christians, and is a set of festival activities which are celebrated in many towns and cities of Spain, principally in the Valencian Community, to commemorate the battles, combats and fights between Moors (or Muslims) and Christians during the period known as Reconquista (from the 8th century through the 15th century). Valencian ( valencià) is the historical traditional and official name used in the Valencian Community of Spain to refer to the region's native language Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The Valencian Community ( Valencian and official Comunitat Valenciana; Comunidad Valenciana is an Autonomous community located in central to The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of Muslim (and earlier non-Muslim people of Berber and Arab descent A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth The Reconquista (a Spanish and Portuguese word for "Reconquest" Arabic: الاسترداد, "Recapturing" was a period
The festivals represent the capture of the city by the Moors and the subsequent Christian reconquest. The people that take part in the festival are usually enlisted in filaes or comparsas (companies that represent the Christian or Moor legions), and for several days, they parade with bombastic costumes loosely inspired by Medieval fashion. Christians wear fur, metallic helmets, and armor, fire loud arquebuses, and ride horses. Fur is a body hair of any non-human Mammal, also known as the Pelage. Armour (or armor) is protective covering most commonly manufactured from metals to prevent damage from being inflicted to an individual or a vehicle through use of direct contact The Arquebus (sometimes spelled harquebus, harkbus or hackbut; from Dutch haakbus, meaning "hook gun" is The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. In contrast, Moors wear ancient Arab costumes, carry scimitars, and ride real camels or elephants. A scimitar (ˈsɪmɪtə is a Sword with a curved blade design finding its origins in Southwest Asia Camels are Even-toed ungulates within the Genus Camelus. The Dromedary, one-humped or Arabian camel has a single hump and the Elephants ( family: Elephantidae) are large land Mammals of the order Proboscidea. The festival develops among shots of gunpowder, medieval music, and fireworks, and ends with the Christians winning a simulated battle around a castle. Gunpowder is a an explosive mixture of Sulfur, Charcoal and Potassium nitrate (also known as saltpetre/saltpeter that burns rapidly producing volumes A firework is classified as a low explosive pyrotechnic device used primarily for aesthetic and entertainment purposes
The most well-known Moros y Cristianos festival takes place in Alcoi from 22 to 24 April, around the Feast Day of Saint George (Catalan: Sant Jordi ; Spanish: San Jorge). Alcoy (in Spanish) or Alcoi (in Valencian) is a city and municipality located in the province of Alicante, Spain. In Christian hagiography Saint George is one of the most venerated saints in the Anglican Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox According to legend, after James I of Aragon reconquered the city of Alcoi, the Moors, in turn, tried to recover it shortly after. A legend ( Latin, legenda, "things to be read" is a Narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to James I the Conqueror ( Catalan: Jaume el Conqueridor, Aragonese: Chaime lo Conqueridor, Spanish: Jaime el Conquistador But, when they were about to start the battle again, Saint George miraculously appeared to the Moors, who were frightened away.
Other remarkable Moros y Cristianos festivals are celebrated in the towns of La Vila Joiosa (with its desembarc), Villena, Biar, Cocentaina, Crevillent, El Campello, Elda, Muro d'Alcoi, Ontinyent, Oriola, Petrer, Pollença and some districts of Alicante city. La Vila Joiosa or Villajoyosa (in Spanish) is a Valencian coastal town and Municipality in the province of Alicante, Spain Villena is a city located in the province of Alicante, Spain. Biar is a Valencian town located in the ''comarca'' of Alt Vinalopó, in the province of Alicante, Spain. Cocentaina (also rarely Concentaina) is a town located in the Comarca of Comtat, in the province Crevillent ( Crevillente in Spanish) is a town and Municipality located in the Alicante province, part of the Valencian Community El Campello ( Valencian) or Campello ( Spanish) is a town on the Costa Blanca ( White Coast) of Spain, within the Valencian Elda is a city located in the province of Alicante, Spain. It has an area of and according to the 2002 census a total population of 55571 inhabitants Muro del Alcoy or Muro de l'Alcoi (in Catalan) or simply Muro, is a town located in the Comarca of Comtat, in the province of Ontinyent (in Valencian, Onteniente in Spanish) is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of Vall d'Albaida in the Petrer is a town located in the Comarca of Vinalopó Mitjà, in the province of Alicante, Spain. Pollença (Pollensa is a town and Municipality situated in the far north corner of the island of Majorca, near Cap de Formentor and Alcúdia ||-||} Alicante ( Spanish language) or Alacant ( Valencian) is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the The most ancient festival is celebrated in Caudete (Albacete), dated from 1588. Caudete is a Municipality in Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. Albacete is a province of central Spain, in the southern part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha.
See also
External links
- Unión Nacional de Entidades Festeras de Moros y Cristianos, Web page of the official organism, in Spanish. The Reconquista (a Spanish and Portuguese word for "Reconquest" Arabic: الاسترداد, "Recapturing" was a period
- Fotos Moros y Cristianos, Pictures of Moros y Cristianos festival in La Vila Joiosa. La Vila Joiosa or Villajoyosa (in Spanish) is a Valencian coastal town and Municipality in the province of Alicante, Spain
- Alcoy Foto Pictures of Alcoy and La fiesta de moros y cristianos in Alcoy.
- Moros i Cristians of Alcoi.
- MusicaFestera.com Music of Moros y Cristianos
- Moros y Cristianos of Elda.
- Moros y Cristianos of Villena.
- Junta Festera de Moros i Cristians del Campello, Web page of the official organism.
- Comparsa Saudites d'Ontinyent (valencian) (Spanish) (English)
- Tourist information Travel guide and info.
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