Moors and Christians in Petrer
05-05-2008
Petrer, in the northeast of Alicante Province, has been able to preserve and enrich one of its oldest traditions over the years: the festival in honour of its patron saint, the 4th century Roman martyr, San Bonifacio, that has been celebrated since the mid-18th century.
The festival takes place from May 11th-19th and has been organised by the Unión de Festejos San Bonifacio Mártir (San Bonifacio Mártir Festival Committee) for over fifty years. The moving Entrada Saludo (Entrance and Welcome) by the bands of music takes place on Thursday May 15th, when they play Miguel Villar's paso doble "Petrel" to an eager and expectant audience that packs the route they take to the square. The same day sees the traditional Retreta (Retreat), when the participants climb up to the hermitage of San Bonifacio to the sound of music to tell the Saint that the festival is about to start.
The following day, the festival groups carry the image of the Patron Saint from the hermitage to the Parish Church, where the whole town anxiously awaits his arrival. Over the following days, there are battles and embassies, with the exceptional ambaixada en valencià, a light-hearted event with comments and jokes about the town and its most talked-about affairs.
Absolute devotion is the characteristic feature of the solemn procession in honour of Bonifacio Mártir. However, the most majestic and impressive acts are the Entradas of the ten festival groups representing the Moors and Christians wearing their finest costumes. These parades are worth seeing due to the colourful and spectacular costumes, which are made in the town itself and have to be approved by an artistic committee.
The profound devotion felt by local residents for their patron saint gives meaning to this happy festival brimming with colour, music and splendour, qualities that led it to be officially declared a Festival of Tourist Interest in 1966.
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