The festivities of the Mare de Déu de la Salut a Valencian tradition Intangible Heritage of UNESCO
The festivities of the Mare de Déu de la Salut a Valencian tradition Intangible Heritage of UNESCO
In the month of September, it takes place one of the festivities with deeper roots in the Region of Valencia. Algemesí celebrates its Major Festivities and with them the celebrations in honour of the "Mare de Déu de la Salut" and the famous Muixeranga.
La Muixeranga is a celebration with a great popular participation from medieval origin (1,247) that takes place on 7th and 8th September. Their rituals, transmitted from parents to children, are displayed in a series of different manifestations: oral manifestations (theatre), music (63 compositions), dances and representations; all of them having reminiscences from Roman, Christian, Muslim and Jewish cults. Those cultures formed the essence of this land and are now present in the creation of musical instruments, in the inspiration of the melodies and in the varied clothing used in the celebrations.
The music of dulzaina and tabal, the orchestral compositions that accompany the human towers of the muixeranga and the dances of bastonets, pastoretes, carxofa, arquets, llauradores, tornejants, volants and mysteries recreate and stimulate the collective memory, transmitting common and universal messages with visual and sound feelings of great plasticity.
During the celebration, Algemesí is transformed into a living museum of the Valencian and Mediterranean tradition with the social framework of faith and culture that includes the liturgical celebrations, the tolling of the bells and the monumental surroundings of the 17th century where the processions are held with the participation of more than 1,400 extras.
Algemesí is a municipality in the Ribera Alta located on the banks of the rivers Xùquer and Magres. Its territory is part of the Albufera, with the lagoon of Samaruc and it also houses the facilities of the Museu Valencià de la Festa.