San Vicente presents its festive roles on the 50th anniversary of the Moors and Christians

San Vicente del Raspeig has introduced its festive roles for the upcoming Moors and Christians celebrations, marking their 50th anniversary. Nearly two thousand people gathered in the sports pavilion to meet their new representatives at this event organised by the Union of Ber-Largas Groups.

During the ceremony, the 2024 designated festive roles were bid farewell, and the new ones were formally appointed. The 2025 Moorish Band Captains, Jordi Céspedes, Carmina Delgado, Pepe Céspedes, and Marina Rosillo, along with the 2025 Christian Band Captains, Carlos Martín-Albo, María Jesús Llor, Marcos Pérez, and Kenia Martín-Albo, were presented. Also introduced were the 2025 Moorish Lieutenant and favourite, Miguel Ángel Herrero and María Chacopino, and the 2025 Christian Lieutenant and the Lieutenant's Lady, José Manuel Ferrándiz and Emma Beviá.

The event was attended by councillors from the corporation, including the Festival Councillor, Cristian Gil. Members of the Festival Commission, led by their president Reyes Gomis, the Queens and Ladies of the Patronal Festivals, the Bellea del Foc and her Ladies, the president of UNDEF, Pepa Prats, and numerous representatives from the groups and associations of the municipality were also present.

During the event, the mayor of San Vicente del Raspeig, Pachi Pascual, reviewed the history of these festivals, which "began as the dream of its 33 founders and have become one of the most important sentiments we Sanvicenteros have."

As a highlight of the ceremony, the mayor made a historic announcement. For the first time, as a novelty for the upcoming Moors and Christians celebrations, a special parade will be presented, led by three groups that participated in the early days of the festivities.

"50 years later, they will once again parade through the streets of San Vicente to the rhythm of the Moorish march, something we have been working on for a long time to ensure these 33 new costumes are identical to those that first led the festivities," detailed Pascual.

Thus, with this gesture and the programme developed by the Union of Groups, "a special recognition of the five decades of celebration is intended." Over this time, "we have not only built a festival that is now a reference in the Community, but it is also something much greater thanks to the people who are here and those who have been."

The next notable date before the start of the patronal festivals of San Vicente del Raspeig will be the proclamation and coronation of the festival queen and the spring queen and their courts, which will take place on Saturday, 29 March, at the Auditorium of the University of Alicante.