The Moors and Christians Fiesta in Abanilla will take place from the 26th April to the 12th May 2024.
Abanilla is situated inland from Orihuela and between Fortuna and Hondon de las Frailes. Although it is a relatively small municipality it has large programme for its annual Moors and Christians Fiesta. Many of the Moors and Christians associations from all over the Murcia Region join in the celebrations in Abanilla making it of Regional Tourist Interest.
Friday 26th April
22:00 Opening Speeches and Crowning of the Fiesta Queens
Sunday 28th April
11:30 Grand Parade of the Children. Route: Plaza de la Lonja, Calle Mayor, Plaza de la Constitución, Calle San José, Avda. Juan Carlos I finishing at the Paseo de la Ermita.
Tuesday 30th April
20:30 Embassey in the Plaza de la Constitucion
00:15 Parade of the Fiesta Queens, Moors and Christians. Route: Plaza de la Lonja, C/ Mayor, Plaza de la Constitución, C/ San José, Avda. Juan Carlos I finishing at the Paseo de la Ermita.
Wednesday 1st May
18:30 Grand Parade of the Christians followed by the Moors. Route: starting from the Sports Centre on Avda. Región de Murcia, along C/ Francisco Salzillo, Plaza de la Constitución, C/ Mayor, Plaza de la Lonja finishing where it is intersected by Calles Canalejas and Alcazaba.
Thursday 2nd May
17:30 Traditional Dances in the PLaza de la Constitucion
18:00 Flower Offering to the Santisma and the Vera Cruz accompanied by the music band Los Veteranos starting from the Plaza de la Constitucion.
Friday 3rd May
06:00 Diana, early morning parade by the music bands and the Captains of both armies to the Iglesia.
07:30 Holy Mass followed by a Pilgrimage from the local church to the Hermitage of Mahoya.
As the procession arrives in Mahoya, the Holy Cross is raised and a paper ball called a ‘Granada’ is suspended from the balcony of the Hermitage. The captains wave their flags and the harquebusiers shoot their blunderbusses. Then the Granada Paper ball is opened and the doves inside are released, at the same time a jet of water is sprayed from the Cross. Then a Holy Mass is celebrated in the Hermitage after which all the pilgrims can kiss the Cross.
Sunday 12th May
17:30 Octava Procession followed by the closing of the fiesta with the waving of the flags and the firing of the Blunderbuss guns followed by a firework display from the Plaza de la Constitucion.