City News
The 2023 Moors & Christians Festivities Get Underway in Mojácar
The highly anticipated Mojácar Moors & Christians festivities officially get underway this Thursday 15th June, and until next Sunday 18th June, with the grand parade, will fill Mojácar with fun and the special magic of several days where culture and history go hand in hand “without winners or losers.”
On Thursday 15th June the programme of commemorations and historic representations begins with a junior parade which will start out at 10.30am from the Bartolomé Flores Public School, going around the “kábilas” (Moorish encampments), and “cuarteles” (Christian encampments), accompanied by Bambolea jesters and tumblers, to the Plaza Nueva. On the same day, from 12 midday, the young Mojácar Moors & Christians will remain centre stage with the gathering of the junior heralds from the Aljama Mudéjar Moorish encampment and the Los Templarios Christian encampment to, accompanied by the Municipal Music Band, also arrive at the Plaza Nueva for the junior proclamation and the recreation of the handing over of keys.
On Friday 16th June, from 1pm to 5pm, the midday festivity opens in the kábilas and cuarteles spread throughout the old town. The Aljama Mudéjar encampment and the Templarios encampment will have entertainment from the “Los Chorreones” and “Los Juaranginos” brass bands.
It will be at 7pm when the blunderbuss fusiliers gather in the Multi-Uses Centre to at 8.30pm at the Mojácar Fountain begin the regrouping of the troops and proceed to the handing over of the keys to the city by the Muslim king Alavez to Capitán Garcilaso, sent by the Catholic Monarchs.
From 9pm, a clarion call, announcing the presence of hostile troops in the vicinity of the city. The troupes turn out with the greatest number of members possible, led by their respective captains, music bands, fireworks and volleys of musketeers.
With the entrance of troops in the city, now in the old town, it will be possible to enjoy the proclamation of the festivities by the adult ambassadors, with a final firecracker. The heralds of this 2023 edition will be Antonio Montoya Gredilla from the Templario encampment and Antonio Jesús Pérez Carrique from the Aljama de Mudejar encampment.
From this moment the Moorish and Christian encampments open, headed by their ambassadors, who will be accompanied by the “Los Juaraginos” band.
On Saturday 17th June, from midday onwards, the traditional Medieval market will open. The city Souk will open its door with the Bambolea characters and an exhibition of birds of prey. The activities on this second day of Moors & Christians continue with parades that will liven up the medina with Moors & Christians-themed characters, who will go around the whole old town, and many other offerings that will bring you closer to the tales of a thousand and one nights.
You cannot miss on Lance beach from 5pm onwards the much-anticipated concentration of blunderbuss fusiliers, who will wait until 6pm for the dance and fire show, the parade of horses and the dressage exhibition, giving way to the meeting and landing of the Moorish troops and the defence of their coast by the Christians.
Every battle ends with a Medieval tournament, where Moorish and Christian knights will try to obtain the greatest number of scarves put up by ladies from both sides. In the tournament, the young riders and their mounts strive to get a smile, and of course, a precious kiss, as a reward for their feat.
The jousting comes to an end with the march of the troops from the Ankara beach bar to the Red Cross along the seafront promenade. An unequalled spectacle of colour and beauty with the Mediterranean as an incomparable setting.
From 9.30pm in the old town, the Moorish and Christian encampments reopen their doors to offer fun and entertainment in these unique Mojácar festivities.
On Sunday the 18th, the last day of the Moors & Christians festivities, the day begins with the concentration of the Moorish and Christian fusiliers and a volley at 12 midday, which gives the alert of the preparations for what is the star activity of all the days: the impressive gala parade of Moors and Christians.
Virtually the whole town takes part. More than 2,000 people, all dressed up in the most luxurious gala costumes you can imagine, and accompanied by floats, bands and brass bands, start out at 6.30pm from the Plaza Nueva to end the parade at the Fountain.
The order of the parade has been stipulated by the Almosaquer Moors & Christians Association. On the Christian side, the Bandoleros go first, followed by the Cisneros Cuartel and the Templarios, who this year hold the captaincy.
On the Moorish side, it will be the Moros Viejos who open the Muslim participation, followed by Tuareg Mojácar, the Moriscos, and finally, Aljama Mudéjar, who also hold the captaincy of the Moorish side. It’s impossible to miss the Mojácar Moors & Christians festivity. Unimaginable days that transport you back in time. Without comparison with any other held in any part of Spain. A whole town: its streets, corners, establishments, Mojácar, in short, transformed into a grand stage with its residents and visitors as actors in what is, without doubt, the most important date in the locality and in the province.
City News
Mojácar Says Goodbye to the Year With the Fifth Edition of its Children´s New Year´s Eve
This morning, the Plaza del Arbollón was filled with happiness and fun in the fifth edition of the Children’s New Year’s Eve, now a well-established event in the municipality.
Hundreds of children, both residents and visitors, gathered together with their families to welcome the New Year on a day designed especially for them.
At 12 noon, the little ones enjoyed an emotional moment with the traditional chimes, when, instead of grapes, they ate small sweets to celebrate the early arrival of the New Year.
The morning was full of activities for the whole family. The children took part in children’s workshops, painting activities, and enjoyed bouncy castles which delighted the most active. In addition, the celebration extended to the Plaza del Parterre, where a spectacular magic show kept both adults and children captivated.
The Mayor of Mojácar, Fran García, expressed his satisfaction at the success of the event: “It is an immense joy to see so many children and families enjoying this celebration, which has now become a very special tradition for our municipality. These kinds of initiatives demonstrate the commitment of our Local Council to families and to the creation of fun spaces for everyone.”
The event, organised by Mojácar Council, reaffirms its commitment to offering inclusive and participatory activities which attract both residents and visitors. Children’s New Year’s Eve has become an essential event in the local festivities calendar, attracting increasingly more participants from inside and outside the municipality.
With this Children’s New Year’s Eve, Mojácar bids farewell to the year with a smile, remembering that the magic of this time of year also belongs to the little ones.
City News
Mojácar Shines as a Model for Christmas Tourism with its Zambomba Flamenca
Mojácar reaffirms its title as the municipality of Christmas par excellence with the successful celebration of its traditional Christmas Zambomba Flamenca, an event that filled the evening with art, emotion and Christmas spirit in the iconic Plaza del Parterre.
The event brought together residents and visitors in an atmosphere filled with warmth and tradition, offering an unforgettable experience that stood out for a line-up of top-level artists. The Zambomba featured the outstanding performance of the renowned dancer Anabel Veloso, who offered a masterful performance accompanied by Mayte Beltrán and her students. With each step, both conveyed the strength and elegance of flamenco, leaving an indelible impression on the audience.
There was an accompaniment of flamenco singing by Alberto Funes and Rocío Zamora, while the guitar playing of David de la Fragua and Gabri Pérez added depthand feeling to the event. Carmen Moreno provided the percussion that marked the vibrant rhythm of the evening.
The Mayor of Mojácar, Francisco García, highlighted the value of this event as part of the municipality’s Christmas celebrations. In his statements he said: “The Zambomba Flamenca is not only a tribute to our traditions, but a way of sharing the magic of Christmas with all those who visit us. Mojácar is not just a place to enjoy, it is a corner where culture and art become the true driving force of our festivities. This is the essence of Christmas in Mojácar.”
The Plaza del Parterre became, once again, the perfect setting for an event that celebrated the best of flamenco culture and the Christmas spirit. The lights, the festive atmosphere and the artistic quality made the Zambomba Flamenca an essential benchmark for Christmas in Mojácar.
With this kind of initiative, the municipality continues to position itself as a unique destination to enjoy authentic festivities, full of tradition and with the unmistakable stamp of flamenco art.
City News
The Mojácar Christmas Market Dazzles With its Spectacular Opening
Christmas has arrived in Mojácar with the highly-anticipated opening of its Christmas Market last Friday, 20th of December, with a mass turnout. The event became the epicenter of the Christmas celebration in the municipality, attracting both residents and visitors with its spectacular staging.
The opening ceremony was led by the Mojácar Mayor, Francisco García Cerdá, who, accompanied by his government team, kicked off the Christmas festivities in an event that is already shaping up to be the highlight of this time of year in the locality. In his statements the Mayor commented: “Our Christmas Market is a demonstration of the cultural and festive wealth of Mojácar. It is a space where traditions meet excitement, and where each visitor can take home a little piece of the magic of our land. This year we wanted to go further, with unique activities and shows that consolidate Mojácar as a benchmark Christmas destination.”
The Christmas Market offers a wide variety of offers for all kinds of people. Visitors can enjoy:
• Handcrafted products: from handmade Christmas decorations to unique pieces of ceramics, wood and textiles.
• Typical cuisine: traditional sweet treats such as “mantecado” shortbread cookies, turron and “polvoron” cookies, as well as local offers that reflect the flavour of Christmas in Mojácar.
• Unique gifts: original ideas to surprise this festive season, including jewellery, accessories and toys.
The opening day culminated with a dazzling light and sound show, a unique experience in the municipality and presented for the first time in Mojácar. The show combined music, visual effects and artificial snowfall that delighted everyone there, enveloping the event in a magical atmosphere.
“Seeing the excited faces of children and families enjoying this experience is our greatest reward. This show, together with the market’s offer, represents Mojácar’s commitment to offering its residents and visitors an unforgettable Christmas,” added Mayor García Cerdá.
The Christmas Market will remain open until the 5th of January, with activities scheduled every day to continue bringing the magic of Christmas to every corner of the village. Mojácar invites everyone to enjoy this unique experience and discover why it is one of the essential destinations for this festive season.
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