Fiestas del Escudo in Cieza: La Invasión

Taking place annually in late April and early May

The “Fiestas del Escudo” in Cieza are based on events which took place in Cieza on 6th April 1477,  when the town was attacked by Moorish Nazrid troops from Granada.

Cieza had formerly been a very important Moorish town, as is reflected by the presence of the Medina Siyâsa archaeological site high on the hillside above the current location of the town. In 1243 this area of Spain was reconquered by the Christian forces of Castilla, and the Moors were forced back into Granada.

As a result Murcia became frontier territory, and as such was the subject of frequent incursions and raids in which villages and towns within riding distance of the border were attacked, their subjects taken hostage or captured to be sold as slaves and crops and livestock stolen or ruined. This situation continued until 1492, when the Nasrid dynasty were finally ejected from Granada and Spain became a fully Catholic nation.

By this time the locals in Cieza had abandoned the former Moorish settlement of Medina Siyâsa and built the town in its current position, down by the water’s edge and in a strategically vulnerable position.

The town’s citizens defended themselves heroically, but in 1477 the population was decimated in the attack, and this is commemorated in the motto on Cieza´s coat of arms: “Por pasar la Puente nos dieron la muerte” (by crossing the bridge they brought us death).

The Fiestas del Escudo are organized by the brotherhood of San Bartolomé and the Town Hall of Cieza, and the fiesta is very important in the cultural festivity calendar in Cieza, not only for its residents but also for tourist visitors.

Contrary to what happens in other Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) festivities throughout Spain, the historic events that occurred in Cieza show the Moors as the clear winners, with their different Kabildes (groups from North Africa) greatly outnumbering  the Christian followers. This is totally unique to Cieza and does not take place anywhere else in Spain, where the Christians usually win.

In 2010 the fiestas were moved back in the calendar in order to avoid coincidences with Easter, and now it is in late April that the the older quarters are taken back to the Middle Ages. The original location where these events unfolded hosts a medieval market and once again becomes the centre of the action, welcoming the Moors and the Christians in their camps and the main scenes of the historical events which took place all those years ago in Cieza are acted out.

All weekend, the ancient streets of the town are filled, with colour and rejoicing, the clash of the parades of the Moors and their supporters consisting of more than one thousand active participants. There are numerous activities, the main focal point for tourist visitors being the re-enactments and grand parade.

Normal programme

Saturday

6.30pm Homage to the Escudo of Cieza
Location: Puente de Hierro

7pm Mass and offering to the patron saint, San Bartolomé, in the Plaza San Bartolomé

The following week on Friday

8pm Act of handing over the position of Comendador and inauguration of the fiestas in the Plaza Mayor.

8.30pm Inauguration of the Moors and Christians encampment.
Location: Balcón del Muro and Plaza de san Bartolomé.

9.10pm Announcement of the Mora ambassador ( Balcón del muro) followed by the Embajada Mora at the Puente de Hierro.

10.30pm Reception of the local authorities by the Comendador

Saturday

12 Midday. Pasacalles, which is a parade through the streets of the Kabilas and Mesnadas, the participating groups, from the Plaza de San Bartolomé, to the Plaza de España

1pm Tronaera, taking place in the Plaza de España

1.30pm Naming of the Mesnada Captain, taking place in the Ermita de San Bartolomé, the hermitage.

5pm Christian baptism La Encomienda, in the hermitage of San Bartolomé

6pm Act of handing  gifts to the town by the Comendador of the town

6.30pm  Sampling of the “Tortas de la Muda”, Location in the Plaza de San Bartolomé
6.30pm Sampling of tea and cakes, Balcón del Muro and at the Plaza de San Bartolomé

8pm Simulation of the act of invasion, commemorating the invasion of the town, taking place in the Balcón del Muro and the Puente de Hierro

Sunday
11am hermitage of San Bartolomé, Bautizo Frontero
Followed by Grand Parade of the Christian Ambassador.
Route: Tercia, Altozano, San Sebastián, Paseo, Santa Ana, Buen Suceso, Angostos, Tercia, Santo Cristo, Cánovas del Castillo, Cartas, Plaza de San Bartolomé

6pm Grand Parade End of Fiestas
Plaza de San Bartolomé, La Parra, Rincon de los Pinos, Larga, Buitragos, San Sebastían, Esquina del Convento, Camino de Murcia, Fuente Nazari.