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MOROS I CRISTIANS 16 July – 25 July, 2010 GUARDAMAR

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Press Release / 2010-07-10 11:58:50

MOORS AND CHRISTIANS - Spain was conquered by the Moors in the 8th c. AD and the last surviving Moorish Kingdom was Granada, which was reconquered by the Christians in 1492.

Guardamar was won back by King James I of Catalonia-Aragon and his crusaders in 1265. The town was built by Catalan settlers in 1270 around the Castle, which disappeared in the 1829 earthquake.  The new neoclassic town was built in 1830 on the slope overlooking the dunes and the sea.

Guardamar Castle was the southernmost fortress in the Kingdom of Valencia and of great historic and strategic importance.

The Moriscos (descendents of Moors who had been forced to become Catholics in 1492) were expelled from the Kingdom of Valencia in 1609 and were shipped to the North African shores.

It was not until much later that the present day popular fiestas in the Autonomous Community of Valencia of “Moros i Cristians” began to be celebrated. In Guardamar they are celebrated on their patron saint’s week, Saint James, the 25th July. People can apply for membership of either the “Moorish” or “Christian” clubs, known as “comparsas” and each comparsa has its “filades” or “sections”.

There are 8 “comparsas”. People usually “prefer” to become “moors” because of their “boato”, meaning “show and ostentation. A love of tradition, rituals, music, gun powder, splendid ceremonial costumes are as much a part of our “Moros i Cristians” fiestas as they are of our personality and way-of-life.

Friday ,16July
9.30 p.m.  Procession of the ´Damas´ (local Queen of the fiesta and her maids of honours).10 p.m.  Opening address by Dr José Quesada Andréu, a priest from Guardamar and professor of Hispanic Studies at Maryland College in the United States.  10.30 p.m. Presentations of key representatives, Flag and Standard bearers -11 p.m. Town Square.  Coronation Ceremony of this year’s ´Dama de Guardamar’ (Lady of Guardamar). Midnight. Opening of the ´Town Council Party Zone’. An invitation to dance the night away to Cuban music with of some of the district’s best D.J.s. Live performances from Agustín Aspa and the group, Habana

Saturday 17th July
11.30 a.m. The San Jaime Madusa Repsol Trophy at the Port in Guardamar. 1 p.m. Traditional festival ´bellringing´ and ´firework rocket throwing´ (town square).6 p.m. Static model aircraft display in Avda dels Pins.

10 p.m.  Fancy Dress Parade and Competition.  Midnight. Party Zone´and Concert event.

Sunday 18th July
1 p.m. Traditional festival ´Bellringing´ and ´fireworks rocket throwing´ (town square). 8.30 p.m. Street parade led by Guardamar and Torrevieja Music Societies. 9.30 p.m. Festival Music Concert in the Reina Sofia Park. Midnight Concert in the old football pitch.

Monday 19th July
1 p.m.  Traditional festival ´bellringing´ and ´rocket throwing´ town square. 7 p.m. Opening of the  mediaeval market (situated in Carrer del Rosari).10 p.m. Choral Concert. 11 p.m. Festival ‘Firecrackers’

Tuesday 20th  July
9.30 a.m. Free fall parachute display at Centre Beach 1 p.m.   Traditional festival ´bellringing´ and ´ firework rocket throwing´ (town square).7 p.m.   Mediaeval market situated in Carrer del Rosari. 8 p.m.   Childrens´Party and Entertainment in the Avda dels Pins with activities and games

Wednesday 21st July             
1 p.m.   Traditional festival ´bellringing´ and ´ firework rocket throwing´ (town square). 7.p.m.    Mediaeval market 8.p.m.    First´Guerrilla’. The mock battle begins. Night time – bar, music and dancing in all of the designated Comparsa ´fiesta barracks’.

Thursday 22nd July
1.p.m. Traditional Festival bellringing and rocket throwing – Town Square 8.30 p.m.  Second´Guerrilla´. This mock battle begins. 9.30 p.m.  The Comparsa ‘Nomadas’ maintain the Castle possession. Night time – bar, music and dancing throughout the night at all of the designated “Comparsa”  ‘fiesta barracks’.

Friday 23rd July
1 p.m. Traditional Festival bellringing and rocket throwing – Town Square

8.30 p.m.  Entrance of the Moors. Starting at Avda. Pais Valencià.
Saturday 24th July

1 p.m.  Traditional bellringing and rocket throwing – Town Square 7 p.m.  The Music Bands make their entrance following the opposite route of the parades. 8.30 p.m.  Entrance of the Christians.  Night time.  A final opportunity to enjoy the fun and hospitality of the designated Comparsa ‘fiesta barracks’.

Sunday 25th July    Feast of St James
1 p.m. Traditional bellringing and rocket throwing – Town Square 6.45 p.m.  Parades  7.30 p.m.  Official Reception for the Captains and members of the Organising Committee in the Town Hall. 8 p.m.  Holy Mass in honour of St James (celebrated by our Parish Priest, Father Reyes Rodríguez Rufete). 9 p.m.   Procession in honour of St James.
Night time bar, music and dancing in all of the designated Comparsa ´fiesta barracks´.

Midnight The Castle Fireworks Display. 

PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME EVENTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE – PLEASE CHECK FOR UPDATES