Moors and Christian Festival in Spain

The festival of Moors and Christians gives a good introduction to the origin of names, things and customs you see and experience while travelling in Spain and in the Iberian peninsula. Gibraltar is named after the Moorish general who led the groups that landed at Gibraltar in the year 711.

Photo right - African motifs are popular in parades (click on photo for the expanded view, it will pop up in its own window).

Photo above - This time the castle is occupied by Christians

Names with prefixes like Beni- or Ali- are of Moorish origin.
Much of the foodstuff and spices you enjoy daily was brought to Europe by Moors. They added pomegranates, oranges, lemons, aubergines, artichokes, cumin, coriander, bananas, almonds, saffron, sugar-cane, figs, grapes, peaches, apricots, rice etc. into the European diet. Systems of irrigation, which you can still admire, provided Al-Andalus with an agricultural economic sector by far the most advanced in Europe.

Photo above -heated discussions turn into clashes between Christians and Moors

Go to page 4 of Moors and Christians Festival

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This page last updated June 2007
Text copyright held by Paula Repo, photograph copyright by Pasi Rein .