Fiestas del Escudo: La invasión (Escudo Fiestas: The invasion

Taking place annually around the 6th April

The “Fiestas del Escudo” in Cieza are based on true events which took place in Cieza on 6th April 1477 when the town was attacked by Nazarie troops from Granada. Cieza had formerly been a Moorish town, the Medina Siyâsa archaeological site which can be visited today the location of the original town, high on the hillsides above the current location. In 1243 this area of Spain was reconquered by the Christian forces of Castile y León, and the Moors forced back into Granada. Murcia became borderland, and as such was the subject of frequent incursions, villages and towns within riding distance of the border frequently attacked, their subjects taken hostage or captured to be sold as slaves, crops and livestock stolen.

This situation continued until 1492, when the Nazrid dynasty were finally ejected from Granada and Spain became a fully Catholic nation . At the time depicted in these events the Ciezans 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 the population of the town was totally decimated in the attack, the motto on Cieza´s coat of arms.  “Por pasar la Puente nos dieron la muerte”.  (By crossing the bridge they brought us death) relating back to this event.
The Fiestas del Escudo are organised 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, Ciezanos, but also for tourist visitors.

The re-enactment of the tragic historical events that took place in the XV century when the army from Granada destroyed the town and imprisoned the majority of its Christian citizens is a popular attraction for tourist visitors, filling the town with colour and drama for the duration.

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.

The fiesta takes place in the month of April to coincide with the same period during which it actually occurred in history and it converts the old quarters of the town of Cieza back into 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 outline 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: Balcony of the wall( 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.