Eldership 2025 Spain - Moors And Christians Festival Wrap-up

On Wednesday the multi-day festival concluded. There were numerous events we did not attend. However, our apartment is ideally located to view  the concluding fireworks. I promised in my last festival post to give some additional detail on how the things are organized. Here is what I got from my research.

In the Moors and Christians festival of El Campello, the different groupings of participants are organized into self-contained clubs or associations known as comparsas. These are social and fraternal organizations that operate year-round, preparing for the annual celebration. 

 

Comparsas are the organizing unit: Rather than being based on geography like neighborhoods, participation is defined by membership in a specific comparsa. There are separate comparsas for the Moorish side and the Christian side. In 2025, for example, El Campello featured 17 comparsas.

 

Voluntary membership: The festival brings together local residents and visitors who voluntarily join a comparsa. This creates a sense of community and allows participation to span multiple generations within families.

 

Social and fraternal structure: Members of a comparsa are called festeros and work together throughout the year. They hold social events, make costumes, and organize the details for the parade and festival. Each comparsa typically has its own headquarters (cuartelillos) where they gather.

 

Leadership roles: Within each comparsa, specific leadership roles are filled, particularly the "captain" and "standard-bearer" (banderera). These roles are handed down from one year's festival to the next.

 

Distinct identities: Each comparsa has its own name and identity. For instance, some of

El Campello's comparsas include:

• Christian: Cavallers de Conquesta, Cristians del Campello, Jaume I, and Cavallers de Montesa.
• Moorish: Marrocs, Meixemet, and Zaidies.

 

External participants: While the comparsas are local groups, other organizations are often invited to participate in the festival. For example, music bands (bandas de música) from throughout the region often travel to El Campello to accompany the parades, contributing to the spectacle. 

So we will conclude our Festival Coverage with a fireworks video spectacular.

 

 

Until 2026