Moros y Cristianos festival, Alicante

One of the highlights of Alicante residents' social calendar comes with Moros y Cristianos.

The festival occurs at different times of the year depending on the city district; this summer, it is celebrated on August 12th and 16th in Altozano, and August 24th and 28th in Jose Antonio.

Unlike most of Spain's colourful costumed street parades, Moros y Cristianos has historical rather than religious roots. Spain was ruled by Moors - African Muslims from the western Mediterranean - for centuries, before being driven back by Catholic 'reconquistas' in the 15th century. This conflict is now ritually re-enacted in towns across Spain each year.

Moros y Cristianos is celebrated throughout Spain, and is particularly popular in the Valencia region. Alicante's festivities are likewise some of the biggest in the region.

The festival starts with a huge parade through the streets by the filaes - re-enactment groups each representing a different faction of the battle, from Venetian soldiers to Valencian peasants, Berber regiments to Andalucian bandits. Each filae meets frequently throughout the year to practice and prepare for 'battle'.

Each 'soldier' is meticulously dressed period costume, and many smoke cigars during the parade, although no-one knows where that particular tradition came from!

Festivities climax with battle re-enactments, as the filaes face each other down. The streets echo with gunfire as hundreds of blanks are fired from the filaes' blunderbusses. Smoke bombs and fireworks complete the illusion of battle.

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