Moors and Christians Fiesta in Oliva - Third Week of July
For their spectacle and elegance, the Moors and Christians fiestas of Oliva have carved a niche in the circuit of great processions of this deeply Valencian festival.
This high level of processions and quality of the fiesta has been reached by strengthening other aspects of the event to make it more participatory and more solemn at the same time: the day of the disembarkation, the “Saturday at daybreak” (which people attend without having slept after the street parties) the fiesta proclamations, embassies and visits to the clubhouses... So it is that these fiestas recalling the Christian re-conquest of the territory occupied by Arabs for more than 500 years, are enjoying a period of splendour that improves in quality, participation and above all in spectacle year after year in Oliva.
The town joins together to commemorate the struggle between the followers of the Cross and those of the Half Moon. The Moors and Christians march in their fantastic costumes, each with their own style of music from their band which follows them around the town and there is a great spectacle of battles, dances,
carnival floats and mounted troops who perform spectacular displays in the streets of the town. After a whole night of fun, many go to the beach for the early morning disembarkation where the Moorish Ambassador lands to be greeted by the Christian Ambassador. A great battle ensues to the sound of blunderbusses and fireworks. The Moors win the fight but it is a short-lived victory.
On Saturday evening a fantastic procession, lasting for several hours, parades through the town showing the Moors, Christians and the Pirates in all their glory. They are accompanied by bands, floats, fire breathing dragons, street performers who re-enact battle scenes and displays of fantastic horsemanship. The castle erected in the Paseo is re-conquered and the Christian king takes up residence after a furious battle. A fantastic firework display marks the end of the festivities.
MOORS AND CHRISTIANS 2011 (21ST TO 24TH JULY)
SATURDAY, 16 TH JULY: 5th CHILDREN MEETING and PRESENTATION OF CAPTAINS, AMBASSADORS AND STANDARD-BEARERS
11.00 h. Children meeting with Moors and Christians festivity. Plays, balloon's war, stories and so on... Located in Paseo Gregori Mayans
23.00 h. Personal introduction of the Captains, Ambassadors and Standard-Bearers at Parc de L'Estació. At the end there will be spectacular fireworks.
THURSDAY 21 ST JULY: STREET CRY, DAY FOR THE MUSIC AND THE "PUTXERO" NIGHT.
20.00. Festival Proclamation from the Town Hall balcony with the harquebusier salute in the honour of Captains, Ambassadors and the Town crier, attended by the authorities.
Music bands parade from the Town Hall to the Parc de l´Estació where they will play the pasodoble "Oliva 1990" by Miquel Villar, directed by Josep Rafel Albert i Guerola.
String of fireworks and hoisting of the Christian flag at the castle.
00.30: After having putxero (typical stew) for dinner at the càbiles and casals (Moors and Christians stations), it will be an "Informal Parade" with the participation of those who want to join the party by the following route: Loygorry avenue and Joan Carles I boulevard and Lluis Vives.
The party will go on until early in the morning at the càbiles and casals.
FRIDAY 22ND : JULY ENTRY CHRISTIAN PARADE DAY
08.00 h. General awakening with fire and music beginning at the Music conservatory and following through the streets of Oliva.
20.30 h. Spectacular Entry Parade by the Christians in this order:
CHRISTIANS
Opening Entry
Filada Jaume I
Filada Mosqueters
Filada Masers
Filada Pirates
Filada Contrabandistes
Filada Corsaris (Filada Christians Captains 2011)
They will go through the following streets: Rinconada de les Ermites, Ctra. Gabriel Ciscar, Av. Loygorri, Paseo Joan Carles I, Paseo Lluís Vives ending at the Municipal Market.
The party will go on in the morning at the different càbiles and casals
SATURDAY 23RD JULY: MOOR LANDING, EMBASSY DAY AND ENTRY MOOR PARADE.
00.30 h. Orchestra will add charm to the party at the "Mitja Galta" (Pau-Pi Beach) until the Moors Landing.
06.00 h. Moors Landing at Mitja Galta Beach with a spectacular firework set piece and harquebusier. Harangue of the Moor Captain, Courier and Moor Embassy, with resultant battle between Moors and Christians. Moors Conquest. There will be amazing surprises... enjoy it!
19.30 h. Retreat Parade by Moors in this order:
MOORS
Opening Entry
Filada Marràqueix
Filada Almoràvits
Filada Taifes
Filada Mudèjars
Filada Moriscos
Filada Tuàreg (Filada Moors Captains 2011)
They will go through the following streets: Rinconada de les Ermites, Ctra. Gabriel Ciscar, Av. Loygorri, Paseo Joan Carles I, Paseo Lluís Vives ending at the Municipal Market.
SUNDAY 24TH JULY: FRATERNITY DAY AND CHRISTIAN RECONQUEST AND THE END OF FESTIVITY.
12.00 h. Visits of the Moors and Christians to the different càbiles and casals expressing their fraternity with music band parade.
19.00 h. Children Retreat of Moors and Christians who will go through the following streets with music bands and float: Av. Loygorri , Joan Carles I, Lluís Vives and Jaume I ending at the Municipal Maket.
19.30 h. The reconquest of the castle by the Christians. Departure of the Moors and Christians from Rei Jaume I Boulevard following through Lluis Vives Boulevard, Joan Carles I Boulevard, Loygorry Avenue, Pare Antoni Salelles and entry to the castle.
20.30 h. Harangue of the Christian Captain, Courier to the Moor band and Christian Embassy, with resultant battle between Moors and Christians. Christian Reconquest.
24.30 h. Spectacular fireworks by Pirotècnica Borreda sponsored by Festivities Delegation of the Town Hall, and ending of the festivities.
Note: During the festivities, there will be music all through the town.
