The Moorish and Christian embassies and the final parade today, Monday, marked the end of the Semana Grande of the Moros y Cristianos festivities in Ontinyent, with the castle as the backdrop.
The Valencian town of Ontinyent concluded its Semana Grande of the Moros y Cristianos festivities this Monday with the celebration of the embassies and the final parade. The day began at 10:00 AM with a mass at the Parròquia de Sant Carles, where the Santíssim Crist de l'Agonia is venerated.
At 11:00 AM, the twelve comparsas of the Moorish side, led by their captain, ambassador, and flag bearer, set off from la Cantereria to the castle of Ontinyent, which was controlled by the Christians. The Christians, for their part, left from the northern area of the Santa María bridge and descended calle Regall to meet the Moors at the foot of the fortress.
There, the battle of arquebuses took place first, followed by the Moorish embassy, led by the comparsa Moros Espanyols. This event, declared Bien de Interés Cultural Inmaterial by the Consell in 2019, began with the sound of a trumpet to silence the arquebuses.
A Moorish horseman galloped across the square and, at the foot of the castle, handed a scroll to the sentinel demanding the surrender of the town. The Christian captain, Ricardo Enguix, from the comparsa Estudiants, read it and publicly tore it up. The Christian sentinel, from the castle, introduced the embassy with verses written by Joaquín José Cervino over 160 years ago.
Then, the sound of horns announced the entrance into the square of the Moorish ambassador, Sergi García, from the Moros Espanyols, accompanied by the Moorish captain Juan Luis Galiana (from the Moros Marinos) and the Moorish flag bearer David Mateu, followed by an escort.
The Moorish ambassador attempted to convince the Christians to hand over the town, speaking with the Christian ambassador, Jose Luis Gandia, accompanied by the Christian flag bearer, Gonzalo Martí, both from the comparsa Almogàvers. He first argued rights over the castle; then offered pacts and gifts; and finally resorted to threats. In response to the refusal, a confrontation ensued with new shots from arquebuses and close combat between captains and ambassadors. Victory tilted in favour of the Moorish side, which placed the flag of the Media Luna at the castle.
In the afternoon, the Christians reclaimed the fortress after reciting Cervino's verses again, in a reverse act. Once victory was achieved, the final parade was held, marking the end of the Semana Grande.
The municipal programme La Gran still includes an epilogue at 8:00 PM at the Museu del Tèxtil, with a closing party led by the xaranga El Dólar. The festivities will not be officially closed until next 6 September, Sunday, when the image of the Crist de l'Agonia will be taken up to the ermita de Santa Anna.
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