Elvira Vives and Ana Bisquert will be standard bearers for Moors & Christian 2025

The Moors and Christians in Xàbia is warming up and the fiesta organisers have announced its top representatives for 2025. Elvira Vives Segarra and Ana Bisquert Ribes will be the new Moorish and Christian Standard Bearers. As is tradition, their official proclamation and the beginning of their representation at the head of the fiesta will take place on Saturday 22nd February during the celebration of Mig Any.

Elvira is 27 years old, a veterinary assistant and a member of Filà Schaitans which was founded in 2000. She has been part of the fiesta for as long as she can remember. Her first memory is, when she was very young, riding on a float in one of the Filà Captaincies. Since then, her involvement and participation in the fiesta has grown over the years. Her family also lives it intensely. In 2005, her sister Noelia also held the position of Moorish Standard Bearer and acknowledges that she is being “a great support” in view of the year of representation that is about to begin.

The new Mora Flag Bearer does not hide her flirtation with the Christian side. Between 2006 and 2008 she was part of the Filà Bandolers, a Christian filà (now defunct) that was characterized by making its own costumes. In fact, her mother, a skilled dressmaker and seamstress, was in charge of making them. Now she is dedicated to making the official costumes that characterize Filà Schaitans.

Ana is also 27 years old and is a teacher of Infant and Primary School at the Xàbia International College. She belongs to the Filà Bandoleres, founded in 2023 and the only one completely made up of women from the Christian side. Ana says that her first contact with the fiesta was marching in the female squad of the Filà Almoriscos and in the female squad of the Filà Contrabandistes de Xàbia that was created to better display their last captaincy. Now, for three years, she is another party-goer within the fiesta.

In her case, the rotating system for choosing Standard Bearers has meant that this young Filà is the one in charge of designating the highest representative of the Christian troops in its third year of life. “It was a complete surprise,” says Ana. “When they told us, we couldn’t understand it because we are still new to the fiesta and we consider it an important election.” In fact, given their short career and lack of experience, none of the members of the Filà felt prepared to take on the role despite the facilities offered by the organisers. Finally, Ana accepted the challenge. At first she had her reservations, but she confesses that, the closer the date of Mig Any approaches, the more excited she is about this year’s preparations.
In the case of Elvira, her Filà has an entire internal designation protocol based on the seniority of its members and the willingness of these (in this case women) to assume the festive representation.

Both Ana and Elvira know that, by holding the position, they will have the opportunity to discover the fiesta from another perspective with their captains. In particular, they are looking forward to experiencing two events in which the Standard Bearers have a leading role. Elvira opts for the Moorish Landing and the surrender of the castle and Ana, of course, for the Christian Reconquest. Not in vain, these are two events on which, historically, the fiesta is based and in which their position as Standard Bearer takes on special relevance, leading their respective sides to victory.

Elvira and Ana define the position of Standard Bearer as a synonym for what the fiesta is: brotherhood between the different groups. A union that, they agree, is the greatest incentive and distinctive feature of the Moros and Cristians in Xàbia: “That is why it is a pride to be able to represent a great family like this one. Each of the members who are part of the fiesta makes a great effort, above all, to offer the best of themselves to the public. Being the visible face of people who work so hard so that others can enjoy is an honour.”

“The fiesta are very complete today. Beyond the own and unique events such as the parades, landing and reconquest; we have flower offerings, processions, the concert of festive music, children’s activities and nightly parties among others, not to mention that the kábilas and barracks that are open to everyone,” say the two Standard Bearers. “We are a fuesta that is constantly growing and evolving, where the fiesta brotherhood is paramount.”

SOURCE: Junta de Festes · Moros i Cristians de Xàbia