Moors and Christians of Villena
moor christian festival villena spain celebrated september honor nuestra señora de la virtudes patron saint city recognized festival national tourist interest massive representation several thousand people participant main parade dress moor student warrior farmer etc five day participatory moor christian festivity world festival celebrated september structured participation fourteen comparsas company seven belonging moorish side many others christian side one made several hundred participant parade la entrada entrance parade september la cabalgata nocturna great night parade september last hour actively parading almost third local population bringing together marchingmusic band various region southeast spain origin date back virgen de la virtudes lady virtue proclaimed patroness town protector plague current moor christian festival result merger three different festival patronal feast religious element represented procession pilgrimage mass mainly military festival alarde military element whose origin old militia kingdom later called soldiery participated patronal festival representative spectacular act military element festivity la entrada entrance parade consists parade festeros participate grouped comparsas magnificent costume rhythm moorish march christian march pasodobles composed expressly festivity historical element consists fight harquebusry embassy loss recovery castle symbolizes population recalling historical event occurred history spain represented embassy guerrilla shooting landing conversion moor christianity similar act la embajadas embassy play consists series old play ambassador present parliament defender castle city atalaya castle time progress word become harsher ending revealing intention taking fortress loud battle arquebus invading army take castle role reversed two day later moro cristianos villena