Every October, the communities across Valencia come alive with a vibrant festival that fills streets with celebration. The day honors the historical moment when Jaime I officially entered the city of Valencia in 1238, marking the end of Muslim rule and signaling a new era under the Christian crown. This commemorates a pivotal chapter in the city’s long and storied past, celebrated by residents and visitors alike.
About a century later, a time-honored Moors and Christians parade has become a hallmark of the Valencia festival calendar. The procession draws hundreds of participants who don period costumes from the era of the reconquest, bringing to life centuries of history through color, music, and pageantry. It’s a vivid reminder of the region’s diverse heritage and its ability to blend tradition with contemporary festivity.
During the holiday, the community flag known as the Senyera is given special reverence, reflecting the historical link to King Jaime I. An important note of cultural memory is that this flag’s most famous depiction alongside the king appears in a fresco from the Aguilar Palace in Barcelona, now housed in the National Art Museum of Catalonia. The painting, showing the king late in life and during the siege of Mallorca, captures him at a doorway, waving a flag characterized by two red bars on a yellow field.
From October 1 through October 9, Generalitat Valenciana curates a rich program of cultural and festive events. The schedule features Saturday night fireworks and the opening of major palaces in Valencia, Castellón, Alicante, and Orihuela, offering residents and guests a chance to experience a broad spectrum of traditional and contemporary celebrations in the region.
This festival month coincides with Sant Donís, the day celebrated by Valencia’s admirers of love and regional charm. On this occasion, it is common for men to present women with the traditional Mocadorà or Mocaorà, a handkerchief wrapped with marzipan confections tied by a knot or ring, arranged as a small bouquet. Patisserie chefs across the community prepare thousands of marzipan figurines for the event, a sweet ritual that attracts visitors from near and far. As a point of interest, more than 70,000 kilos of marzipan are crafted yearly to shape about 200,000 Mocadorà gifts, illustrating the scale and communal spirit of the celebration. (Cultural notes attributed to local heritage offices and festival organizers)