FIESTAS

There are various fiestas during the year, all of which are mentioned in the calendar, but here are some of the more interesting ones from the tourist's point of view:-

The MORAIRA VILLAGE FIESTAS are held in honour of the village patron saint "La Virgén de los Desamparados" (The Virgin of the Helpless) and "La Virgén Carmen", protector of the fishermen, on the 15th and 16th of July each year.

The festival covers 10 days of celebrations with the participants in colourful traditional costumes parading in the streets accompanied with brass bands, open-air dances, games and competitions and bulls running in the marina. A coloured brochure and program of events is available, published by the Fiesta Committee, and the revenue from advertising helps with the financing. The main event on the 16th is particularly worth seeing. The beautiful statue of the Virgin is carried from the church, around the village and then taken out to sea to bless those that she protects - accompanied by almost everything that floats!

The TEULADA FIESTAS honour St. Vicente Ferrer, a very well-known Spanish saint and the patron of the town, who was actually born and lived there. The event is held during the week around 15th April every year and the celebrations are much the same but with a more Spanish flavour.

La FONT SANTA (Holy Fountain) is situated between Moraira and Teulada where every year a (mainly religious) festival is held at the beginning of July. San Vicente Ferrer, as the story goes, was travelling on foot between Alicante and Valencia and, in those days, it was quite a difficult journey. He was overcome by thirst and fatigue whilst passing through the area and struck a stone alongside the path with his walking stick, from which water began to pour, enabling him to quench his thirst and bathe his feet. The stone is still there, with the water appearing drop by drop, and alongside is a tiny chapel.

La FIESTA DEL MOSCATEL is held at the end of August and is a kind of "Harvest Thanksgiving". The name applies to the type of grape, in which the area specializes, which goes into the making of "Mistela" wine. Well known is the local brand "ALONE" which is marketed by the aptly-named "Cooperativa de San Vicente Ferrer". Many visitors reject this type of drink as being too sweet but one has to appreciate that it is a fortified sweet wine, similar in strength to a Sherry. Many local restaurants offer a glass with the bill as, in fact, it goes down very well after a good meal. However, it is best drunk very, very cold - even to the extent of frosting the glass beforehand. The event is held at the "Plaza de la Ermita de San Vicente Ferrer" and comprises a public procession, music and dancing - and of course, the sampling of the season´s produce!

The MOORS AND CHRISTIANS fiesta, the other main event in Moraira Village, takes place on the 3rd weekend in June and is a truly awe-inspiring display of parades and costumes. Being a re-enactment of part of the history of Spain, it is peculiar to the province of Alicante where many towns and villages stage their own event at different times of the year. This "invasion" is re-enacted every year with the accompanying canon- and musket-fire (using real gunpowder) and the following day the Christians stage an attack and retake their castle with even more enthusiasm. An exciting and noisy event with, hopefully, no causalities! Obviously this is not all and the fiestas continue for most of the week, featuring daily parades with each "Fila" (line or group) represented by their flags and in costumes of their elected colours with the usual discordant harmony of the brass bands playing Christian or Moorish music - dependant on what side they are on! The event starts on Thursday and culminates on the Sunday evening when ALL the Filas, both Moorish and Christian, march in all their splendour, with spectacular costumes, brass bands, decorated floats, horses, camels, elephants - or whatever else those participating can dream up in order to delight and entertain the public. Many visitors who have seen this spectacle come back at the same time every year as they cannot believe what they have seen. The sumptuous event is partly funded by those taking part, who use most of their energy and enthusiasm throughout the rest of the year in order to raise the necessary funds. One wonders if the lovely Ira really knew what she was starting all those years ago as she flashed her dark eyes at this Iberian settlement from across the waves!