Fila BAHARIS begins its Captaincy in emotional presentation evening
The grandchildren of Enrique Bas Espídos offered a special tribute that recalled the origins of the fiesta when Bas served as mayor of Xàbia.
The troops of the Moors and Christians have taken over the streets of Aduanas del Mar in Xàbia for another year. The official presentation ceremony on Saturday night marked the start of the celebrations that will immerse the port area in the dazzling and lavish historical recreation in festivities that honour Sant Jaume, the Moorslayer.
The presentation, conducted by Lorena Ros and Laura Calavia, was an exceptional and emotion evening, enlivened even further by the special dance numbers by the students of Escuela de Baile de Xàbia.
However, the main attraction of the event was the officially proclamation of Txema Bengoa and Amaia Arrausi as Captains of this year’s festivities at the head of their Filà BAHARIS, Capitania 2024. The couple collected the baton from Filà ALMORISCOS, Capitania 2023, and took their rightful places on the thrones alongside this year’s young standard bearers, Lucía Serrano (the crescent of the Moorish side) and Vanessa Garrido (the cross of the Christians), both of whom led the march of each of the filaes that make up their respective sides.
An equally emotional moment was the pregón, the responsibility for which was handed to José Enrique Bas Espíños, mayor of Xàbia between 1979 and 1991, who was represented on the stage by his grandchildren. In turn, they address the peculiar origins of the fiesta in the town, emerging in 1978 but taking a few more years to find their own place in the cultural calendar.
Bas was one of those who helped the fiesta settle into that place and consolidate itself. In his speech, he said that identifying as “Moor” or “Christian” was not important, it was to contribute to make the fiesta great. The president of the Junta de Festes Moros i Cristians de Xàbia and the councillor responsible for Fiestas, Mavi Pérez (CPJ), presented Enrique Bas with a commemorative plaque in recognition of his role in the development of the fiesta we know today.
The presentation also served to allow each of the filaes to showcase their spectacular costimes that they will be wearing during the gala parades on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st July. The variety of styles, originality and colour were clear, promising a parade that will dazzle the public.
Following the Christian standard were the Trabuquers, Contrabandistes de Xàbia, Bandoleres, Ballesters, Pirates de Sant Jaume and Faciners and then, following the Moorish standard, were the troops of Xibia, Touaregs, Almoriscos, Almoradins, Al-Tarik’s and Schaitans. And they were followed by the representatives of Filà Baharis, this year’s captains who promise to surprise all with their grand pageantry next Sunday.
The Junta de Festes was also able to officially welcome the incorporation of Filà Touaregs into the family after ten years waiting in the wings whilst also honouring the 25th anniversaries of Filà Schaitans and Filà Contrabandistes de Xàbia. All three were presented with official sashes for their standards to acknowledge their respective milestones.
The 2024 Premio Sant Jaume was also especially emotional. This honour acknowledges the work that men and women connected to the fiesta have done over the years. This year, the winner was José Serrat Cholbi, known as “Pepe Tomaca”, a man who has always had a big hand not only in the development of the fiesta but also with the neighbourhood of Duanes de la Mar and the seafaring culture of Xàbia. He was presented with his award by his children and his granddaughter.
The event ended with the speeches by Abel Moll, president of the Junta de Festes de Xàbia, who bid farewell to his position after two years at the head of the organising committee and thanked those colleagues who assisted him. The president also highlighted the current strength of the Junta de Festes and its solidity as a group.
The councilor responsible for Fiestas, Mavi Pérez, also spoke, this time as a festera (she belongs to a filà) and she exalted the greatness of the Moros i Cristians de Xàbia. The mayor of Xàbia, Rosa Cardona, pointed to Enrique Bas as a political reference and recalled the unstoppable evolution and growth that the Moros i Cristians festivals have experienced in the last decade.
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