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I had the awesome opportunity to live in Spain for 3 months after college.  “Spain Life” involved a large amount of discovery, spontaneity, and exploration.  On this city excursion, we stumbled upon the Festival de Cristianos y Moros.  Historically, the Christians and Moors have battled over the lands and rights to Spain for centuries.  Still today this heritage is celebrated in many Spanish cities, Valencia included.  Now, I love parades to begin with, but this was like nothing I have ever experienced.  The detail of the costumes was amazing, not to mention that those wearing the costumes not only wore them but acted their part as well!  I snapped a few shots and here they are:

The smokiness in this picture, just above the toros (bulls), is in fact smoke.  Jesters, both on stilts and foot, lite off various fireworks along the street.  Sparks were shooting everywhere, including the crowd, but these mighty bulls don’t seem to be alarmed at all.  I guess a few sparking fireworks are nothing compared to an enraged Matador!

Children in Spain are loved by all and they are very, very well taken care of.  It is not uncommon for children to wear nicer clothes than their parents.  This takes place in America as well, however is tagged with negative connotations.  We would label this as spoiling, but in Spain this is custom.  Children are celebrated and not only do their parents of children treat them like royalty, but everyone else who takes a part in their upbringing as well.

Check out the awesome head dresses, and the facial expressions!

That little redhead in bottom right sure is a feisty thing!  Don’t mess.

We witnessed this troupe practicing their lineup and routine in one of the sides streets prior to the parade.  Seeing these guys all gussied up was our first clue to the festivities taking place.

These were some of the Moorish costumes.  I wasn’t able to get a clip of any of the dance performances, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t happen!  Dancing troupes like those pictured below flipped, leaped, and twirled down the street, maintaining great facial expressions while doing so!

And dancing hawks….

There was actually a hawk master (if you will) walking just behind this troupe with a trained hawk that would fly out overhead and then obediently return to his perch on the master’s arm.  It pretty much rocked.

Spaniards are very expressive and people oriented.  I love this picture simply because of all the different interactions taking place.  Grandma and Grandpa, los ninos (the children), and the wide-eyed hombre in the rear.  Ha!  Can you spot the gold digger? (Gold Digger’s location: Left of wide-eyed hombre)

Here are some more sweet costumes.  We watched this parade for over two hours and it wasn’t even half over.

Horses pranced along the streets with some very fancy footwork!  I was absolutely blown away at how close the horses got to the onlookers.  Their stomping hooves were within feet of the crowd.  This would never fly in the US.  Some idiot would get stepped on, sue the horse and its mother, and then of course we would just give everyone that attended a trophy and outlaw it for next year.

Knights of the Holy Grail anyone?  We were actually able to see the Holy Grail, among other interesting artifacts, while we were in Spain.  (The Holy Grail, meaning the cup Jesus used in the last supper.)  There will be later posts to come with more about Spain, and the Holy Grail…no worries.

A Spanish French Horn player.  Definately a winning combination.

And the final view of it all.  !Me Encanta! (I love it!)

Posted: Thursday, September 18th, 2008 @ 10:14 pm
Categories: Stuff to Smile About.
Tags: Children, Christians and Moors, History, Parade, Photos, Religion, Spain, Travel, Valencia, video.
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