The Moorish and Christian entrances (entrada mora and entrada cristiana) are the grand parades of the Moors and Christians fiestas: in each one, a side symbolically takes the town with all its troupes, its music and its office-holders. They are two separate parades, one for each side, and the part of the fiesta that draws the biggest crowds onto the streets.
What the entrance is
In most towns in the Valencian Community, Murcia and Castilla-La Mancha, each side takes the town on its own day. At first there was a single entrance parade, but as the fiestas grew it was split in two, and today very few places still hold just one.
Its roots are military. In Alcoy, the decree that declared the fiesta a Bien de Interés Cultural (protected intangible heritage) dates it to 1741, when, on the eve of St George’s Day, the captains and officers of the militia made a “vistoso paseo” (a showy parade) through the town; over the years, that parade became the two entrances.
Who takes part
Each comparsa (troupe) goes past in its costume, with its squads, its brass band and, when it is their year, its office-holders: the captain, the alférez (standard-bearer) and the flag-bearer. In the 20th century the office-holders began to appear with a boato (their accompanying retinue) and special squads, which is why no two entrances are alike. The crowds also forced changes to timetables and routes, and made brass bands essential to keep the festeros in step.
The Moorish and Christian entrances in Alcoy
| Christian Entrance | Moorish Entrance | |
|---|---|---|
| What it represents | The Christian forces gathering to defend the town | The forces of Al-Azraq that besieged Alcoy |
| When | The morning of the first day of the Trilogy | The afternoon of the same day |
| Key moment | The castle governor hands the keys of the town to the captain | The Moorish captain arrives in the square |
| Length | About four hours | About five hours |
The night before come the Entradetes, an informal parade with no official costume and the bands out of uniform, after the Nit de l’Olla dinner in each filà.
Elda, Aspe and Ontinyent
- Elda. According to Turespaña, the Christian entrance is held on Saturday afternoon, after the first assault on the castle that morning, and the Moorish one on Sunday afternoon.
- Aspe. The official tourist office lists the Entrada de Bandas de Música (the bands’ entrance) separately from the Entrada Mora y Cristiana. The fiestas are organised by the Unión de Moros y Cristianos Virgen de las Nieves, which has eight comparsas.
- Ontinyent. The Generalitat’s official tourism site lists, as well as the Christian and Moorish entrances, a Bands’ Entrance and a Children’s Entrance.
Entrance, alardo and embassy
The entrance is the parade; the alardo is the musket battle; the embajada (embassy) is the verse parley in front of the castle. Nobody fights during the entrance: each side shows off its strength before the war.
Eating on an entrance day
On an entrance day, the timetable is in charge: when the comparsa sets off, how long it takes to get back and when the band is free. If you are on the committee, our article on the comparsa or filà meal explains how to organise it. And on our page about catering for Moors and Christians you will see how we at Xepep fit the meals, the band’s included, around the entrances and parades.
For more vocabulary from the table and the fiesta, explore Charanga and Three Kings parade.
