"Moors and Christians" Festival in Biar, Spain

"𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐨𝐬 𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐬" 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐚𝐫 "Moors and Christians" is a set of festivals celebrated in many towns and cities of Spain, mainly in the Valencia region. They commemorate the period from the 8th century through the 15th century known as Reconquista when Christian forces gradually reconquered the Iberian peninsula from the Arabs (Moors). Different communities celebrate their local "Moors and Christians" festivals at different times of the year depending on when they were recaptured. Typically, the inhabitants of each town join one of the several "clubs" that represent Muslim townspeople, Arab warriors, Christian townspeople, Christian nobles, Christian knights, sometimes also Jews. In most places the clubs compete against one another with their elaborate costumes, processions and orchestras playing marches specifically composed for the occasion. Some communities also re-enact battles between Moorish and Christian armies.