Moors & Christians Festivals
This festival is more popular in the east of Andalucia in the mainly provinces of Granada and Almeria, It takes place on different many days through out the year depending on the locality.
The origins are obviously the battles following the re-conquest on the XVI and XVII century. The usual format for the fiesta is first a procession of the Moors and the Christians, then a theatrical enactment of verbal attacks and rejections by both groups, a battle enactment with skirmishes and dances, the conversion or the death of the moors, and finally homage to the patron saint.
In some larger festivals, often over two days the popular format is for the moors to 'capture' the virgin or a local relegious relic and take it to a location. On the second say the christians recover the relic and retuen it to the church or chapel.
Nowadays with greater affluence the uniforms are more spectacular. The Christians wear the uniforms of the soldiers of the re-conquest. The moors wear basic short sleeved cotton jackets.
See below for a list of many towns that support the festival with the name of the patron saint and the date. Whilst many of these festivals take place on the traditional date indicated each year, others move slightly in relation to the day of the week or the religious calendar or occasionally weather. In order to confirm, check the villages' town hall website (www.villagename.es) or their Facebook page may publish the date or a poster in the few weeks preceding the festival.
Almeria Province
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Alcontar Alcudia de Monteagud Angusto Bacares Bayarque Bedar Benimar Carboneras Gergal |
La Loma Laroya Lubrin Lucar Paterna del Rio Senes Somontin Turrillas Velefique |
Granada Province
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Albondon Aldeire, Virgin del Rosario, 31 Mayo Baza, Cascamorras, 5-6 Sept Benamaurel, Virgin de la Cabeza, last Sunday in April Beznar, Virgin de la Dolores, 8-9 September Bubion, San Sebastian, 21 January Caniles, San Sebastian, 20 January Capiliera, Virgin de la Cabeza, Last Sunday in April Cogollos Guadix, Virgin de Cabeza, 25 April Guadiz, Cascamorras, 5-6 Sept Mecina Tedel, san Fermin, 2 May Montejicar,Virgin de la Cabezo, 24-26 August Molvizar, Santa Ana, 25-28 July Orce, San Anton y San Sebastian, 17-19 Jan Pampaneira, Santa Cruz, 3-4 May Picena |
Pozo Iglesias Quentar San Torcauto Trevelez Turon Balax Valcabra Valor Velez de Benaudalla Zujar Belmez de la Moraleda Campilla de Arenas |
Jaén Province
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Carchelejo, Virgin del Rosario, 15 August |
Malaga Province
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Alfarnate Algatocin Benadalid |
Benalauria Benamocarra |
Cadiz Province
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Benanahoma, San Antonio, first Sat and Sun in August |
