Among the various Moors and Christians representations held annually in numerous towns across southeastern Andalusia, the one celebrated on Saint Anne's Day in Molvízar (Granada) is undoubtedly one of the most interesting and historically significant. The fact that an entire open-air theatrical performance takes place here, following a verse libretto inspired by the times of the Reconquista itself, makes Molvízar's festival a true artistic event rooted in popular tradition.
Origins: the devotion to Saint Anne
Molvízar's bond with its patron saint, Saint Anne, dates back centuries. By the mid-18th century, the Molvízar town council already celebrated a "votive feast that the council holds for Our Lady Saint Anne and Saint Francis", demonstrating that patronal devotion was institutionalised long before the theatrical performance was born.
A dramatic episode marked the town's history: on 25 December 1884, amid a year of calamities (cholera, phylloxera, and the devastating earthquakes of Andalusia), an extraordinary rogation procession was held in which the images of Saint Anne and the Virgin of the Rosary were carried together through the streets of Molvízar — the only documented occasion this ever occurred.
The birth of the performance (~1890)
Around 1890, a schoolteacher named Félix Pascual, from the town of Puebla de Don Fadrique (Granada), initiated the first Moors and Christians performance in Molvízar. This information comes to us through the oral testimony of local resident Consuelo Prados Alonso and was recorded by José Aguilera Triguero, who later established the definitive text of the play.
VV. AA.: "Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos en la costa tropical: Molvízar", in Martínez Pozo, M. Á. (coord.): Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos en España. Huella del milenio del reino de Granada. GDR Altiplano de Granada & Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Benamaurel. Baza, 2012, pp. 231-246.
That first performance took place on the terraces of Salavera. Since then, the play has been performed virtually every year in the Plaza de la Constitución of Molvízar, making it — alongside Zújar, Quéntar and Iznalloz, whose texts date from the 18th century — one of the oldest Moors and Christians festivals in the entire province of Granada.
The play: a unique verse libretto
Structure and characters
The play, by an unknown author with roots in the medieval oral tradition, consists of a series of dramatised ballads and is divided into three parts:
- Act One: The Moorish troops conquer the town, capture the Christian king and seize the portrait of Saint Anne.
- Act Two: The Christians take their revenge, reconquer the castle, free their king and recover the image of the Patron Saint.
- Epilogue — The Triumph of the Ave Maria: The play concludes with the conversion of the Moorish general to Christianity, a fraternal ending in which all recognise each other as brothers.
The characters who bring this story to life are: the Christian king, the Moorish king (evoking the figures of Ferdinand and Boabdil), generals, ambassadors, aides, the Christian spy, Selím, the lookout, the warden and the sentinel.
Saint Anne: the heart of the performance
The central element of the plot is the image of Saint Anne. The current image of the Patron Saint dates from 1939. For over a century, a painting of the Patron Saint has presided over the performance, serving as the sacred object that the Moors seize and the Christians must recover. According to oral tradition, there was a precedent approximately a century ago when the image of Saint Anne was used instead of the painting; in fact, there exists an old photograph, still to be dated, that attests to this, showing the former image of Saint Anne present during the performance.
On 25 July 2025, we witnessed a historic milestone that filled us with emotion: after more than 100 years, our Patron Saint Anne — her image — once again presided over the Moors and Christians performance, an event that deeply moved all the Molvízar residents present.
The text: from oral tradition to paper
The libretto was transmitted orally for decades. It was not committed to writing, as far as we know, until 1967, when a copy was made at the Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Carmen in Madrid. In the following years, several transcriptions and minor adaptations were made (1967, 1968, 1981, 1991).
The definitive version of the text was established by José Aguilera Triguero, a Civil Guard officer and true native of Molvízar. His work, begun around 1972 and completed around 1980, corrected errors accumulated through decades of successive copies and incorporated some ballads from Ginés Pérez de Hita's Historia de los bandos de zegríes y abencerrajes (1595), a work that undoubtedly partially inspired the anonymous author.
An unbroken tradition
Over 130 years of tradition
The Moors and Christians performance of Molvízar has endured for over 135 years. It appears there was indeed a hiatus during the Spanish Civil War (1936–1938), as well as an isolated year without a performance between 1940 and 1959, though the exact year has not been determined. In more recent times, the only exception was 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the suspension of the live performance.
That year, the Moors and Christians Association took upon itself the production of a recorded version capturing the most important moments of the performance, keeping the flame of tradition alive even under the most adverse circumstances.
Moors and Christians Short Film 2020
Evolution of the format
Originally, the entire performance was held on a single day — 26 July, the feast of Saint Anne — with morning and afternoon sessions. Over time, it expanded to two days: 25 July (Saint James) and 26 July (Saint Anne), a format that continues to this day. This change of format was, among other reasons, what motivated the preparation of the latest libretto: it was necessary both to correct certain passages that had been left out of the previous version and to adapt specific verses to the two-day performance. Also, as is natural in our times, women have been incorporated into leading roles with great success and skill.
Timeline of milestones
The Molvízar town council already celebrates a votive feast to Saint Anne and Saint Francis.
Extraordinary rogation procession: Saint Anne and the Virgin of the Rosary are carried together for the only documented time.
First Moors and Christians performance, initiated by Félix Pascual, on the terraces of Salavera.
Performance hiatus during the Spanish Civil War.
The current image of Saint Anne dates from this year.
An isolated year without performance, the exact year yet to be determined.
First written copy of the text (Colegio Ntra. Sra. del Carmen, Madrid).
José Aguilera Triguero establishes the definitive text.
1st Provincial Moors and Christians Festival held in Molvízar; the Provincial Council donates a new castle set.
Suspension due to COVID-19 pandemic; the Association produces a recorded version.
Recovery with health adaptations: single performance on the 26th and traditional costume parade on the 25th as a novelty.
Performances on 25 and 26 July at Plaza de la Constitución (7:30 pm), supported by the Granada Provincial Council.
Historic milestone: the image of Saint Anne presides over the performance for the first time in over 100 years.
How the festival is experienced
Each year, roles are assigned among the town's young people who show a minimum aptitude, taking care not to repeat actors from one year to the next. All are amateurs, residents of Molvízar, and the performance has never been done with professionals. After approximately a month of daily rehearsals, the entire town gathers in the Plaza de la Constitución to enthusiastically applaud those who perform best or show the greatest dedication.
The farewell is always the same: "Until next year, if the Patron Saint permits".
Organisation
The festival is organised by the Asociación de Moros y Cristianos Santa Ana de Molvízar (Moors and Christians Association) in collaboration with Molvízar Town Council, the Brotherhood of Saint Anne and with support from the Granada Provincial Council.
Context and recognition
The Moors and Christians Festival of Molvízar has been described as a jewel of the cultural heritage of the province of Granada. It is one of the oldest and most interesting performances in all of southeastern Andalusia, constituting an essential contribution to Granada's intangible heritage. Its festive rituals and oral traditions form part of a cultural legacy that commemorates historical episodes and legends deeply linked to Molvízar's identity.
Sources and references
- VV. AA.: "Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos en la costa tropical: Molvízar", in Martínez Pozo, M. Á. (coord.): Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos en España. Huella del milenio del reino de Granada. Baza, 2012, pp. 231-246.
- Martínez Pozo, M. Á.: "El movimiento romántico y su influencia en las fiestas de moros y cristianos dentro en el reino de Granada". Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes / Fundación Joaquín Díaz.
- Checa, F.: "La fiesta de moros y cristianos: un complejo cultural". Gazeta de Antropología, 1993.
- Red Festera: "Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos de Molvízar (Granada)".
- El Independiente de Granada, El Faro de Motril, Granada Digital, Motril Digital (2024).
- COPE Motril (2023): "Comienzan las fiestas patronales en honor a Santa Ana en Molvízar".
- Official website of Molvízar Town Council (molvizar.es).