Cultural and Ethnological Roots
A Festival born from the people and passed on with pride
The Moors and Christians Festival of Villena cannot be understood without its deep connection to the soul of its people.
It is much more than a celebration: they are a living expression of popular culture, a reflection of how a legacy laden with symbols, emotions, and values has been passed down, generation after generation.
It is much more than a celebration: they are a living expression of popular culture, a reflection of how a legacy laden with symbols, emotions, and values has been passed down, generation after generation. This festival has a unique ethnological dimension. It was born from the promise of a people to their patron saint, grew with the involvement of its residents, and has endured thanks to collective memory.
From the children who march with excitement in the Parade of Hope to the elders who continue to participate as honorary members, the entire city takes part. Here, tradition isn’t a thing of the past, it’s a way of life. A living chain of cultural transmission, embodying identity, coexistence, and a shared passion.
Historical, heritage, religious, and theatrical richness
Villena is a city with centuries of history, and its most representative festivity showcases it in every event. The Moors and Christians Festivities are a true crossroads of the religious, the cultural heritage, the theatrical, and the historical.
Religious Heritage
At the heart of it all is the Virgen of Virtudes, patron saint of Villena since 1476. Her shrine, her veneration, and the processions held in her honour form the spiritual axis of the festivities. The pilgrimages to the shrine, accompanied by arquebusiers, are a living testament to the popular faith that gave rise to this celebration.
Historical and Monumental Heritage
The main events take place in historic settings such as Atalaya Castle and the Church of Santiago, where the embassies and the conversion of the Moors to Christianity are reenacted. These monuments, both declared “Bien de Interés Cultural” (Asset of Cultural Interest), provide the festival with a unique backdrop one where history comes alive every September.
Theatrical and Stage Dimension
The festival is also a form of open-air theatre. The embassies, the parliaments between Moors and Christians, and the Conversion of the Moor represent a dramatic tradition that dates back to the Spanish Golden Age. Ancient texts, performances in natural settings, and carefully staged scenes ensure that this festival is not only seen, it is deeply felt and fully experienced as a complete spectacle.
Villena has succeeded in preserving and enriching a celebration that is not only popular, but also profound, diverse, and of immense value as intangible heritage. A festival where every step, every musical note, and every gesture tells a story that deserves to be recognized… and lived.
Citizen Participation
An entire city turns out for its festival One of the most impressive—and defining—features of the Moors and Christians Festival of Villena is the enormous level of citizen participation.
Over 33% of the population takes an active role in the festivities, making this celebration a truly unique social phenomenon.
A whole city devoted to its festivity
In numbers, that means more than 11,500 participants filling the streets; parading, organizing events, preparing costumes, decorating venues, or working behind the scenes on various committees. Added to this are over 100 musical bands, restaurant owners, artisans, designers, volunteers, and neighbours who, even if they don’t belong to any specific comparsa, actively contribute by attending events, decorating the streets, or welcoming visitors.
A proudly inherited tradition
The festival in Villena is prepared year-round within families, among friends, at festival venues, or on the streets of the city centre. It is passed down from parents to children, from grandparents to grandchildren. It’s common to see multiple generations of the same family marching together, sharing costumes, memories, and emotions.
Equally common is seeing young people actively involved: forming new groups, reinventing aesthetics, or joining organizational committees.
Much more than revelers
The participatory spirit extends to all areas. The troupes, organized as non-profit associations, operate with democratic structures, assemblies, boards of directors, and joint projects. They also work closely with the City Council, the Central Festival Board, and the Board of the Virgin to coordinate all events, both religious and festive.
Ultimately, the Moors and Christians Festivities of Villena would not be possible without its people. Because beyond the parades and the embassies, what truly makes them unique is the collective spirit that drives them, sustains them, and makes them shine year after year.
Generational Transmission
In Villena, the Moors and Christians Festivals are not learned; they are experienced from the cradle. More than a tradition, they are a legacy passed down from generation to generation as an essential part of family and cultural identity. It is not uncommon to see four generations marching together: grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren sharing the group, costumes, and festive pride.
A heritage that is not lost over time
Each new generation adapts them, keeps them alive, and projects them into the future. From childhood, children grow up surrounded by festive music, costumes, rehearsals, communal lunches, and unforgettable emotions. Marching in the “Desfile de la Esperanza” (Parade of Hope) or accompanying their elders on the pilgrimage becomes an initiation rite full of symbolism and joy.
This transmission happens naturally: at home, in the streets, within the troupes, in the festive venues… and it is there where the love for tradition and the sense of belonging are nurtured.
Families That Make History
Some surnames have been tied to a single comparsa for over a century. Costumes are inherited, flags passed down from parents to children, and squads (“escuadras”) have marched together for decades. New families also join with enthusiasm, showing that this festival welcomes, unites, and grows with everyone.
Even historical records reflect this continuity: families like the “Esquembres” are living proof, with four generations of New Moors participating year after year.
A Future Already in Motion
The involvement of children and young people is key to ensuring that Villena’s Moors and Christians Festival not only endures, but thrives. Thanks to initiatives such as the Children’s Parade, the Children’s Conversion, and group workshops, values like responsibility, community, and love for local culture are nurtured from an early age.
This festival is not just about memory; it’s about the future. It’s about roots and wings. It’s about bonds that shape identity. In Villena, each generation adds its chapter to a shared story that continues to be written.