The Moors and Christians will be parading once again during their yearly fiesta through the streets of Orihuela from the 14th to the 20th July 2024. The Fiesta de la Reconquista commemorates the battles for control of the land between the Moors and Christians. The first celebration took place in 1974 and the ceremonies and acts have become more elaborate with each year. The symbol of Orihuela, the black eagle like bird, known as the ‘La Gloriosa Ensena del Oriol’ features highly in the programme, and even has its own parade! Take a look at the video below, at the beginning are all of the official presentations and then footage from previous years parades.
The programme in English for the Moors and Christians Parades in Orihuela is:
Sunday 10th July
- 19:30 Parade of the Abanderadas & Flower Offering in honour of the patron saints (Justa and Rufina). Route: la Glorieta Gabriel Miró, C/ Calderón de la Barca, C/ San Pascual, Plaza Nueva, Plaza Cubero, C/ López Pozas, C/ Marqués de Arneva, C/ Francisco Die, Plaza de Santiago, Plaza de Monserrate, C/ Capuchinos, C/ San Francisco, C/ Hospital, where the flower offering occurs and then the statues of the saints join the parade and are carried along, C/ Marqués de Arneva, C/ Santa Justa, C/ López Pozas, C/ Ramón y Cajal, finishing at the Cathedral.
Monday 15th July
- 20:30 War between the Moors and Christians (re-enactment with guns). Route: el Paseo Calvo Sotelo, C/ Ballesteros Villanueva, C/ Alfonso XIII, C/ Loaces, C/Calderón de la Barca, finishing at the Glorieta Gabriel Miró.
- 22:00 Capturing of the Castle in Glorieta Gabriel Miró by the Moors from the Christians
Tuesday 16th July
- 20:30 Grand Parade of the Children. Route: C/ Aragón, Plaza San Sebastián, Avda. De Espana, C/ Calderón de la Barca, C/ Loaces y C/ Alfonso XIII finishing in Plaza de Alfonso XIIL.
- 23:45 Gathering in front of the town hall for the exhibiting of the statue of Gloriosa Enseña del Oriol on the balcony, followed by partying in all of the cuarteles and kábilas.
Wednesday 17th July
- 09:30 Transfer of the statue of La Gloriosa Ensena del Oriol from the town hall to the cathedral
- 11:00 Solemn Procession with the statue of the saints Justa and Rufina as well as the Gloriosa Enseña del Oriol. Route: Cathedral, C/ José Mª Sarget, Plaza Teniente Linares, C/ Ramón y Cajal, C/ López Pozas, C/ Santa Justa, C/ Marqués de Arneva, finishing at the church for mass.
- 11:30 Parade with the Gloriosa Enseña del Oriol
Thursday 18th July
- 21:00 Grand Parade of the Retreat. Route: C/ Aragón, Plaza San Sebastián, Avda. De Espana, C/ Calderón de la Barca, C/ Loaces and C/ Alfonso XIII, finishing in the Plaza Alfonso XIIL, followed by partying in all of the cuarteles and kábilas.
Friday 19th July
- 21:30 Christians Parade. Route: gathering of the filas in C/ Ocarasa, for starting on C/ Aragón, Plaza San Sebastián, Avda. De Espana, C/ Calderón de la Barca, C/ Loaces and C/ Alfonso XIII, finishing in the Plaza Alfonso XIIL,followed by partying in all of the cuarteles and kábilas.
Saturday 20th July
- 21:30 Moors Parade. Route: gathering of the filas in C/ Ocarasa, for starting on C/ Aragón, Plaza San Sebastián, Avda. De Espana, C/ Calderón de la Barca, C/ Loaces and C/ Alfonso XIII, finishing in the Plaza Alfonso XIIL, followed by partying in all of the cuarteles and kábilas.