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{{Short description|Street dance tradition in Valencia, Spain}}
[[File:Nova Muixeranga d'Algemesí.jpg|250px|thumb|Muixeranga of Algemesi]]
The '''''Muixeranga''''' ({{IPA|ca-valencia|mujʃeˈɾaŋɡa|lang|Ca-muixeranga.oga}}) is the collective name given to the performance of ancient [[street dance]]s and [[human pyramid]]s or ''[[castell]]s'', originating in the ancient [[Kingdom of Valencia]] (currently the [[Valencian Community|Land of Valencia]]), which are still preserved in the town of [[Algemesí]], {{convert|30|km|abbr=on}} southwest from [[Valencia (city in Spain)|Valencia]], and certain other Valencian towns.

The ''muixeranga'' is much more than an artistic [[acrobatics|acrobatic]] dance. It is a collection of ancient human [[choreography|choreographies]] of enormous [[Plastic arts|plasticity]] illustrating various figures and shapes, which are held during the [[Festivity of ‘la Mare de Déu de la Salut’ of Algemesí|Algemesí town festival]] (September 7 and 8th), in honor of the Virgin of Health (''Mare de Déu de la Salut'').

The ''Muixeranga'' resembles the modern ''[[casteller]]s'' in many ways, the latter being spread all over [[Catalonia]]. Both traditions share the same origin, the "Moixiganga", (a series of dances of human towers) once found throughout the [[Iberian Peninsula]]. Muixeranga differs from [[casteller]]s mainly in that the ''Muixeranga'' has a religious background and is accompanied by a traditional dance, it is also focused in the  height of the [[Human tower (gymnastic formation)|human towers]], but focuses also in the complexity and technique in order to create a [[Plastic arts|plastic]], figurative scene.

Starting in 1996, several muixeranga groups have appeared, most of them in areas where muixeranga has not been traditionally practiced in modern times. These new groups are known as ''Noves Muixerangues''. As of 2025, there are 25 registered muixeranga groups, most of which are ''Noves Muixerangues''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Les colles |url=https://fcmuixerangues.org/les-colles/ |website=www.fcmuixerangues.org |publisher=Federació Coordinadora de Muixerangues |access-date=22 December 2025 |language=ca}}</ref>

[[File:UNESCO-ICH-blue.svg |thumb|right|170px|Logo of [[intangible cultural heritage]], UNESCO]]

== Origin and evolution ==
[[File:La muixeranga (Els Arenals. País Valencià, 1960).jpg|thumb|Muixeranga in 1960, [[Carlet]]]]
There are several theories on the origin of muixeranga, especially in relation to its name. The first theory advocates that the word comes from the [[Arabic language|Arabic]] word ''mochain'', meaning "[[mask]]". A second theory links it with ancient processions held on the streets to commemorate some special event.

Even though the tradition in the [[Iberian Peninsula]] may date back to the 13th century, the first written record of the ''muixeranga'' in [[Algemesí]] can be traced to the first third of the 18th century. However, its constant, strong presence suggests a much older origin.

The first solemn celebrations of the Virgin of Health happened in 1724, so this is the earliest that the muixeranga could be linked to this celebration. However, the first concrete date comes from the town account book in the year 1733, when the [[dulzaina]] players employed in the festival were given an annual stipend.

The guilds were the real driving force behind the event, and in changing times, they died out. The Muixeranga began to wane and by 1973 it had almost disappeared altogether. A group including writer Martí Domínguez i Barberà, Mayor Manuel Rico, Vicent Raga, festival organiser in the Capella neighbourhood, and Father Vicent Castell Maiques, with the support of the students’ association Associació d'Antics Alumnes dels Maristes, were responsible for re-launching it under the guidance of Tomàs Pla. A year later the Friends of assossiació Muixeranga was founded.<ref name=museum>[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ca&u=http://www.museuvalenciadelafesta.com/default.asp%3FDocID%3D317%26Tpl%3Ddescripciofesta.asp&prev=search "Muixeranga", Museo Valencia de la Festa]</ref> Eloi Miralles, a member of the Colla de Castellers de Vilafranca del Penedès, arranged for the muixeranguers to visit the Penedès capital and on August 31, 1978, the Muixeranga rose up in Villafranca's main square, banishing forever that lack of visibility which might have proved fatal.<ref name=metode/>

[[File:Amics de la Muixeranga d'Algemesí.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Muixeranga in front of church Sant Jaume d'Algemesí.]]
{{Main|Muixeranga (cançó)}}

==La Mare de Déu de la Salut Festival==
{{Main|La Mare de Déu de la Salut Festival}}

The main event where Muixeranga is traditionally performed is at the feast of Our Lady of Health in Algemesí.

The feast day of Our Lady of Health, patroness of Algemesí is September 8, and commemorates the legendary discovery in 1247 of a statue depicting the Madonna and Child. The image venerated in the town since the mid-twentieth century is a replica, because during the Civil War the original image of the Virgin of Health was destroyed, as was the chapel. The festival appears to have originated in a street party in the area of the Chapel of Finding and gradually spread to other neighborhoods. The main celebration in held on 7 and 8 September, is preceded by a novena at the Chapel of the Finding, which begins August 29 and ends on September 6. The festival has preserved traditional dances and music, and has served as a source for the recovery of dances that formally existed in other locations and have been able to be re-established.

[[File:Processó de la Mare de Déu de la Salut d'Algemesí.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Festivity of 'la Mare de Déu de la Salut' of Algemesí.]]

The involvement of the town's inhabitants is the foundation upon which the continuity of this celebration is based. Each ritual works and has been prepared independently since the 18th Century. From the “Muixeranga” through to each of the dances, the different variations and musical scores have been passed from generation to generation. In the early 18th Century the dances belonged to different guilds; for example, the “Muixeranga” was the domain of construction workers, the “Carxofa” of the weavers, and so on. But social changes brought modifications to this custom and the traditions opened up to include people from other professional sectors. [[UNESCO]] has recognized the ritual, festive and community participation dimension of the Valencian celebration Our Lady of Health as part of the "intangible heritage of humanity".<ref>[http://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&hl=en&prev=search&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=es&u=http://www.elperiodico.com/es/noticias/sociedad/muixeranga-algemesi-patrimonio-humanidad-1242581&usg=ALkJrhjlfn5lFrz9e4D1oJNjFyAhlHxbIQ "Unesco declares Algemesí Muixeranga intangible heritage of humanity", ''el Periódico'', 28 November 2011]</ref>

The Festivity of “la Mare de Déu de la Salut” has been studied by ethno-anthropologists, sociologists and historians. It has inspired artists, musicians and poets. All of these people have remarked on the breadth of the cultural content of this event. Artistic groups such as the “Muixeranga”; dances like “els Bastonets” or “els Tornejants”; or the music that accompanies the performances are all the result of having conserved a fundamental part of the cultural heritage of an entire town.
It was this popularity and interest in the tradition that led to the creation in 2002, of the Museu Valencià de la Festa (a Museum dedicated to the Festivity); which offers exhibitions and research into the Festivity. At the centre, visitors can learn about the history, the ritual acts, the dances, the music and the costumes of the celebration, as well as enjoying many stories from the event.

===Processions===

====The Promeses Processó====
At nightfall on 7 September, the beginning of the festivities is signaled by the ringing of the bells of the Basilica of St. James the Apostle. When the ringing stops and silence descends, the first notes of the flutes are sounded and the first of the processions begins. The procession, which begins with the mysteries and martyrdoms, (short theatrical pieces, performed by groups of children), has a scrupulous order with the towers of the Muixeranga second, followed by the Bastonets, the Carxofa, the Arquets, the Pastoretes, Bolero or llauradores, and the city band.

====Morning Processoneta====
On the morning of September 8, the Feast of the Nativity of Mary, there is a second, shorter procession known as the ''Morning Processoneta''.

====The Great Volta====
The procession called the Great Volta, starts about 4:00&nbsp;p.m. and is the longest, lasting over seven hours. Starting from the Basilica of St. James, the traditional dances of Algemesí and the image of the patron pass back through the old city, repeating the original itinerary of 1724.

==Characteristics==
After the mysteries and martyrdoms, all the processions display a series of dances; the Muixerangas leads the rest. The Muixerangas, a set of tableaux composed of human towers and representative figures, has several stages, and opens with all muixerangueros dancing in two rows with candles burning. The dance is accompanied by the music of drum and flute. The muixerangueros then form a human tower moving to the sound of the music. The tower is topped by a child with open arms.

The forms of the Muixerangas assume plastic or pliable shapes that open or appear to form different figures which have all Marian symbolism. The Valencian town of Algemesi and its Muixeranga, lays claim to being the origin of the ''[[castell]]s'' found throughout Catalonia.

[[File:Mare_de_Déu_de_la_Salut_35.jpg|thumb|right|200px|muixerangers preparing the elevation of muixeranga tower.]]
 
The people composing the castles are usually a group of people, of virtually any profession, but preferably of strength and physical skill. Nowadays, around 200 people participate in the plastic figures, but historically there were not more than thirty. There is a master, or conductor, which coordinates the dance and the human castles, towers and other figures, as well as admitting and training new people.

The clothes are idiosyncratic in many ways. They are composed of a shirt, trousers, farmer's shoes and sometimes a special hat. The fabric is coloured with vertical red and blue stripes on a white base, like a [[harlequin]]. It seems that this strange appearance is unintentional. Older people can still remember that they were once made from old mattress fabric.

Accompanying the group, some young members carry some jugs cut in half and painted with stripes with typical colors of the same muixeranga (designed by former member Juan Ezquer in 1973) which serves to collect funds for the activities of Muixeranga.

== Music and symbology ==
{{listen|filename=Xavi_Richart_-_Muixeranga_(low_quality).ogg|title=The Muixeranga song|description=Performed by Xavier Richart}}

The dance is accompanied by the music of [[tabalet]] (a [[drum]]) and [[dulzaina|dolçaina]] (valencian [[shawm]]), with a very old characteristic [[Musical tuning|tune]], of unknown author.

Some people striving for the recovery of the Valencian culture and its language, such as [[Joan Fuster]], have suggested the music of the Muixeranga as an [[anthem]] for the [[Valencian Community]].<ref name=metode>[http://metode.cat/en/Annual-Review/Monographs/The-Festive-Gene/The-Muixeranga-a-Long-Journey Viadel, Francese. "The Muixeranga: a Long Journey", ''Mètode'', University of Valencia, 2012] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911093125/http://metode.cat/en/Annual-Review/Monographs/The-Festive-Gene/The-Muixeranga-a-Long-Journey |date=2016-09-11 }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Acrobalance]]
* [[Acrobatic gymnastics]]
* [[Govinda sport]], events to celebrate the birth of [[Krishna]]
* [[Gymnastic formation]]
* [[Human pyramid]]
* [[Castell]] or [[Human tower (gymnastic formation)|Human tower]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==References==
*Bertran, Jordi: ''El Ball de Valencians. De la dansa a les torres'', Quaderns de la Festa Major, 12, Ajuntament de Tarragona, 1997.
* Vestirse para la Fiesta: el baile de “les Llauradores” de Algemesí.
* Algemesí: Ayuntamiento de Algemesí, 2002. {{ISBN|84-922401-5-6}}
* Un mundo de “Muixerangues” Ayuntamiento de Algemesí, 2004. 
* Literatura popular sobre la “Mare de Déu de la Salut” de Algemesí (1924-1925) Ayuntamiento de Algemesí, 2004 Colección Algadins, 16. {{ISBN|84-922401-8-0}}
* La “Muixeranga” de Algemesí”  Amigos de la “Muixeranga”, 1997 {{ISBN|84-605-7951-4}}.
* La “Mare de Déu de la Salut” de Algemesí Basílica Menor de San Jaime Apóstol, 2004. {{ISBN|84-932947-2-1}}

== External links ==
* [https://mural.uv.es/juanbela/muixeranga.htm Non-official web of the Muixeranga] (part of the information of this article has been extracted from this web, with permission)
* [http://en.novamuixeranga.com/ Nova Muixeranga from Algemesí]
* [http://www.moixiganga.com Web Official of Moixiganga of Vilanova and the Geltrú]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Moixiganga-de-Vilanova-i-la-Geltr%C3%BA/242761652465366 Facebook Official of Moixiganga of Vilanova and the Geltrú]
* Museu Valencià de la Festa. www.museuvalenciadelafesta.com
* Asociación del ritual de La Muixeranga d’Algemesí: www.muixeranga.net
* Asociación “Ball de les llauradores”. www.llauradores.com 
* Ajuntament d’Algemesí.  www.Algemesí.net
* Escola Municipal de Tabalet y dolçaina d’Algemesí, creada en 1973. www.lainestable.com

{{Culture of Valencian Community}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Spain}}

[[Category:September]]
[[Category:August]]
[[Category:Festivals in Spain]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Valencia]]
[[Category:Spanish folklore]]
[[Category:Culture of the Valencian Community]]
[[Category:European folk dances]]
[[Category:Spanish dances]]
[[Category:Spanish folk music]]
[[Category:Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity]]
[[Category:Human towers]]
[[Category:Organised events in Valencia]]