The festival is a historical performance of the Moors invading the city followed by the Christian re-conquest.
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 landing 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.
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
Do you like our Moors and Christians festival?
Are there re-enactments of important battles in your country?