The Comparsa de Cristianos, one of the five pioneers of the resumption of the Fiesta in our city, was founded at first by people like Julian Maestre, Juan Olcina, Pablo Maestre, Rosalino Tordera, Rafael Tortosa, Vicente Busquier and Romualdo Guallart, to whom some more were added later.

It was founded in 1944, according to the back of its flag, probably after the euphoria unleashed by that first departure in January of that year.

This first blue flag was blessed on September 17, along with the flags of the other four pioneering groups of the Festival. At first, it seems that the Christians were the most numerous group in the Fiesta, but over time it became a small group whose members were very united and showed great enthusiasm for the Fiesta, as one of its founders, Vicente Busquier Verdú, tells us.

The costume of this troupe is the one that has evolved the most throughout the history of the Fiesta. From the first costume worn by the group in 1945 – clearly influenced by the villains – to the one worn by its members today, there have been no less than six totally different variations. The first costum – popularly called “legionary” – is an “old Spanish” costume (with airs of the seventeenth century) with a jacket and blue cloth pants, red sash, white linen cap, chambergo with feather, red cape and, as a weapon, a halberd.

This suit lasted until 1947. The following year the clothing was changed by adopting a very similar suit, known by the festive people as the “button” suit, which was used by its components until 1954. This costume is also characteristic of the “old Spanish” costumes, that is, with a jacket with slashed sleeves and sky blue pants, chambergo, matching sash, lace collar, red cape, boots and sprat or foil as a characteristic weapon.

From 1955 to 1982 the “flamenco” jacket was adopted, with a maroon and gold jacket with slashed studs, chambergo, lace on the neck, tights, boots and sprats. From 1983 to 1998 the costume changes completely, although it follows the same characteristics as the previous ones: the costume is composed of emerald blue trousers and jacket, white satin shirt, jacket, boots and sprat. In 1999 the troupe finally decided on the medieval-style costume, typical of a warrior of the Reconquest, following a design of the eldense “Francis” made for the occasion. The costume is composed of a blue brocade tunic, a white and red velvet bib and embroidered with the medieval castle and lion and the shield of the troupe, straps, metal shoulder pads, a white cape with a Latin cross, a helmet and bracelets.

The Comparsa currently has a spacious social club located at Avenida de Chapí 13, which was inaugurated and blessed on May 14, 2005.

We thank the collaboration of Don José Blanes Peinado for this information collected on the history of our Comparsa in his book “THE FESTIVAL OF MOORS AND CHRISTIANS OF ELDA”.