Sax Moors & Christians

The Moors and Christians will be marching in Sax from the 1st to the 5th February 2016. This annual fiesta is held in honour of San Blas and involves numerous parades, mock battles, the seizing of the castle and ultimately the defeat and expulsion of the Moors.

Monday 1st February

• 11:00 Entrance of the bands Parade from the Colegio Hermanas Carmelitas to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
• 22:55 Alegre Retreta Parde of Christians then Moors from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento to the Ermita de San Blas where the Saludo al Santo (greeting of the saint) will take place, then each company will parade to the Plaza Cervantes.

Tuesday 2nd February

• 08:30 Diana Parade by the 8 music bands from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
• 10:30 Procession 'De Candelas' with the firing of the Blunderbuss Guns Christian Companies followed by the Moor Companies from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento along Canalejas, M.Serrano, P. Gisbert, Alicante, Gran Via, Puerto Rico, J.R.Jimenez, Yecla, Carrera, Ramon y Cajal, Caja Rural, Castelar, M.Chapi finishing at the Iglesia.
• 18:20 Procession 'Bajada del Santo' with the firing of the Blunderbuss Guns Christian Companies followed by the Moor Companies from the Ermita, along Chauli, M.Serrano, P. Gisbert, Alicante, Gran Via, Puerto Rico, J.R. Jimenez, Yecla, Carrera, Ramon y Cajal, Caja Rural, Castelar, M. Chapi finishing at the Iglesia.

Wednesday 3rd February

• 08:30 Diana Parade by the 8 music bands from the Gran Via to the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
• 10:00 Act 'Del Predicador' involving only certain members of each company (bands, captains, flag bearers and one climber) who are later joined by the other members of their company.
• 12:30 Procession of San Blas The Moorish Companies followed by the Christian Companies parade from the Iglesia along Calle Artal de Alagón to the Ayuntamiento.
• 18:00 Parade of the Moors and Christians and the Entrance of the Christian Ambassador, the fiesta queens start the parade followed by the Moors and then the Christians from Pascual Carrion to the Castillo and then onto the Ayuntamiento. The Christians occupy the castle and the Moor Ambassador asks then persuades them to leave, conquering and taking control of the castle.

Thursday 4th February

• 08:30 Diana Parade by the 8 music bands from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
• 09:30 Parade 'Subida del Santo' with the firing of the Blunderbuss Guns the Moor Companies followed by the Christian Companies parade from the Iglesia to the Ermita de San Blas, where they sing the traditional Hymn (12:00-12:30). The parade route is; Iglesia, Callejon Banos, Fuente del Cura, San Antonio, Cruz, Chauli, Peligro finishing at the Ermita.
• 19:15 Parade of the Moors and Christians and the Entrance of the Moorish Ambassador, the fiesta queens start the parade followed by the Moors and then the Christians from Pascual Carrion to the Castillo and then onto the Ayuntamiento. The Moors occupy the castle and the Christian Ambassador asks, then persuades them to leave, conquering and taking control of the castle.

Friday 5th February

• 08:30 Diana Parade by the 8 music bands from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
• 15:30 Changing of the Captains, the selection of next years Captains.
• 19:40 Parade of the Companies and their New Captains from Pascual Carrion to the Ayuntamiento, the Fiesta Queens start followed by the Christians and then the Moors Companies.