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Lymington Twinners trip to Almansa
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Twenty-six members of LITA visited Almansa in early May for their impressive annual Festival. This re-enacts the storming of the town by the Moors in the 12th century and then its re-taking by the Christians over 100 years later. The whole town is on holiday, schools and businesses are closed, and everyone parties for a week. We arrived at lunchtime and despite afternoon and evening processions we were still up until the early hours watching the castle being stormed by the costumed Moors with very realistic hand-to-hand fighting and mock bloodshed – all to a stirring soundtrack.
The next morning brought renewed loud bangs from the streets - the sound of blunderbusses and firecrackers signalled street fighting between the Moors and the Christians … again! This proved a daily occurrence, very noisy but clearly much enjoyed by all.
Children’s processions took place later, with every child, no matter how young, dressed in the costume of their family’s ‘fiesta club’. Every participant belongs to one of these ‘clubs’ and membership passes down the generations. The clubhouses are open all day, providing food and drink for their members throughout the fiesta. One afternoon was open-house. Everyone follows the bands from one clubhouse to the next, with free drinks and tapas at each stop. The evening processions were an amazing sight with row upon row of Moors and Christians, twelve or more abreast, all swaying in step in magnificent costumes and elaborate make-up.
On our last day, we watched another thrilling pageant as the castle was retaken by the Christians. Later there was a more informal parade, with people on floats throwing sweets to the crowds, local restaurants and food producers handing out tapas and drinks as they passed by, dance groups in wonderful matching costumes stopping to do a turn every few minutes. There were acrobats, horsemen on beautifully trained animals - and even a goat – a wonderful carnival atmosphere. The parade ended with a communal meal. Over a thousand people sat at long tables in a huge marquee. After eating, the tables were cleared away for a disco, singing and dancing till dawn. (click here to see LITA participating)
On our last day the statue of the Virgin of Belén was brought out of the main church to be presented with floral offerings by hundreds of couples who walked in a solemn procession, the men in dark suits and the women in black dresses. Representatives of LITA were invited to take part, some of the ladies having been lent beautiful black lace mantilla headware. Later there was more dancing, culminating in a magnificent firework display …. at 3am. As we left the next morning, still amazed at the stamina of the inhabitants, we were looking forward to gentle recuperation after our unforgettable visit.
The next morning brought renewed loud bangs from the streets - the sound of blunderbusses and firecrackers signalled street fighting between the Moors and the Christians … again! This proved a daily occurrence, very noisy but clearly much enjoyed by all.
Children’s processions took place later, with every child, no matter how young, dressed in the costume of their family’s ‘fiesta club’. Every participant belongs to one of these ‘clubs’ and membership passes down the generations. The clubhouses are open all day, providing food and drink for their members throughout the fiesta. One afternoon was open-house. Everyone follows the bands from one clubhouse to the next, with free drinks and tapas at each stop. The evening processions were an amazing sight with row upon row of Moors and Christians, twelve or more abreast, all swaying in step in magnificent costumes and elaborate make-up.
On our last day, we watched another thrilling pageant as the castle was retaken by the Christians. Later there was a more informal parade, with people on floats throwing sweets to the crowds, local restaurants and food producers handing out tapas and drinks as they passed by, dance groups in wonderful matching costumes stopping to do a turn every few minutes. There were acrobats, horsemen on beautifully trained animals - and even a goat – a wonderful carnival atmosphere. The parade ended with a communal meal. Over a thousand people sat at long tables in a huge marquee. After eating, the tables were cleared away for a disco, singing and dancing till dawn. (click here to see LITA participating)
On our last day the statue of the Virgin of Belén was brought out of the main church to be presented with floral offerings by hundreds of couples who walked in a solemn procession, the men in dark suits and the women in black dresses. Representatives of LITA were invited to take part, some of the ladies having been lent beautiful black lace mantilla headware. Later there was more dancing, culminating in a magnificent firework display …. at 3am. As we left the next morning, still amazed at the stamina of the inhabitants, we were looking forward to gentle recuperation after our unforgettable visit.
Other exchange visits with Almansa:
Lymington Twinners trip to Almansa 2014
Almansa Twinners visit to Lymington 2013
Lymington Twinners trip to Almansa 2014
Almansa Twinners visit to Lymington 2013
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Lymington International Twinning Association
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