FIESTAS DE ALAQUÀS
FESTA I PORRAT DE ALAQUÀS
The festivities of Alaquàs traditionally honour the town's patron saint, San Francisco de Paula betweenthe 4 and the 11 of May.
It is a religious festivity that starts with the transfer of the saint's image from its shrine to the local church. Apart from the religious events, there are fun activities in the street such as the traditional Fira del Porrat, a funfair from the 9 to the 11 of May.
This festivity has been traditionally organized by the association "Orden Mínima Seglar de Alacuás", combining both religious and fun events, but being the religious ones more prominent with a greater number of events.
The festive programme included children activities, traditional games, and the outdoor cooking of arròs amb fesols i naps, the typical paella, for the people of the town.
Date: 4-11 of May.
PATRON SAINT FESTIVITIES
From late July to the beginning of August the patron saint festivities of Alaquàs take place for 15 days, cheering up and offering fun to the people of the town.
These festivities started to honour the patron saints of the town Mare de Déu de L’Olivar and Santíssim Crist de la Bona Mort. Among the great number of events these days there are correfocs (a parade of people dressed in demon costumes bearing sparklers), Cordá, Nit de Dançà, Moors and Christians festivity, the Rock Festival of Alacuás and Cant de la Carxofa. Music and fireworks are present at any time of these events.
A few years ago, there was a water party called Fiesta del Agua, but it is not held anymore because of the current water shortage in the region.
As mentioned above, in the programme of the Patron Saint Festivities, there is also the Moors and Christians festivity, as in many other cities and towns of the Community of Valencia and the Community of Murcia, with 27 troupes dressed up like old Moorish and Christian soldiers recalling the wars between both for the control of the towns in the Middle Ages. Another event very typical during these festivities is Conquista del Castillo (Conquest of the castle), reenactment of the a battle between the moors and the christians resulting in the Christian conquest of Valencia by Jaume I in the 13th century. Both the people representing the moors and the people representing the christians meet up at Plaça de la Constitució, where they reenact the fight ending with the victorious entrance of the Christian leader, symbolizing the conquest.
A typical event of these festivities is Cant de la Carxofa, dating from the 19th century. It is a act full of sensitiveness on the 8 of September (Mare de Déu de L’Olivar Day) consisting in a theatrical performance of child dressed up like an angel coming out of what looks like an artichoke, singing a traditional hymn.
The next day is dedicated to honour Cristo de la Buena Muerte with a mass and a procession.
Music has an important role during these festivities though the many acts and performances with poetry and hymns, traditional dances, and fireworks.
Date: Late August-Beginning of September.
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