Fiestas - Terminology

It's not long until the Fiestas Patronales in Teulada, Moraira, Javea and the towns of the Marina Alta, but how much do you know about the Fiestas and what happens during them? 

This is the list of Terms you need to know if you want to know just what is going on during them, How many times have we all wandered into an ongoing Fiestas and wondered what on earth is going on? 

Fiesta Patronales Terminolgy

Fiesta Patronales:

These are the local village celebrations, in each village there is a patron saint, Teulada St Vicent Ferrer, Benissa Purísima Xiqueta

Festeros 

These are the people who raise the funds for each Fiesta Patronales every year. Every town has its own traditions, but in Teulada, the festeros are the people who turn 18 and 45 that year, this people receive a postcard from town hall calling them to be a FESTEROS and to work for the next 12 months to raise funds for the Fiestas. 

Quintas :

Each age group has their own "group", they will normally meet for a dinner, twice a year, so during the Fiestas you can see groups of people with their Age of Birth on the back of their Tunics

Dia de Las Quintadas :

This is the day of official celebration at the end of the Fiestas, there is a big party and the whole of the town will take part, it is normal for these festivities to run from 11 AM to 7 PM

Peña:

When you walk through a town, you will see buildings with writing on them, some may say Peña on them, this is a place where during the Fiestas groups of people involved with the Fiestas will enjoy themselves and hold meetings.

Desfile:

During the Fiestas there are many occasions when the Queens and their consorts will parade in the streets.

Fuegos Artificiales:

This is the term for the Fireworks displays that are held on various days during the Fiestas

Mascleta :

These are the fireworks during the day, that make the most incredible noise, to much applause and aplomb

Alcalde : 

This is the word for the Mayor of a town

Reina Infantil :

Each year, both an Infantil Queen of the Fiestas is crowned, this event takes places at the start of the Fiesta Patronales at a lavish and grand ceremony

Reina Festes :

Each year a Queen of the Fiesta Patronales is crowned, who will lead the events throughout the year, this cermony, as per the Reina Infantil is a very big event, with the Queen being chosen at random from all the Festeras

Commissio :

The commission is the same as FESTEROS,  is elected each year and arranges and creates all the fund raising events held throughout the year. 

Presidenta :

Representative and person who Will speak to the town in the name of COMISSIO.

Entrade De La Murta:

Murta is an autocton plant from our enviroment, and the tradition says, that first day of FIESTAS, festeros would bring this plant and throuw it on the streets in order to make the town more beautiful, now a days, is mostly the same but instead of plants, noise fireworks.

Pascalle Tradicional:

In this case, the festeros make a desfile with traditional clothing. Called in Valenciano TRATGE DE TEULADÍ or ALICANTÍ.

Coronacion de les Reinas :

This is the main event whereby the Queen of the Fiestas is crowned, this is usually held in August each year

Nocehe de _Cuadrillas Peñas Y comisiones:

Is the night when all commissions/festeros in the past years, eat together in the main square. Every commission one table.

Despertada:

This is one of the benefits of living in the centre of a town, it's the Alarm Clock for the events, Festeros wander around the streets at 8 am to wake everyone up for the Fiestas (Regardless of what time you go to bed) using fireworks, music bands or both. This happens every day of the fiestas

Solemne Procesion :

On the day of the patron saint, there is a procession where the town gathers and parades with the Saint carried on a group of the townspeople's shoulders, to show the Saint, in the case of Teulada, Saint Vicent Ferrer to the people.

Correfoc :

This is an exceptionally hair-raising event where Festeros run through the streets with a cascade of fireworks exploding above their heads. 

Author(s)

Joan Josep Andrés Soler, owner of Mediterranea Villas