This is how we set up a Muladi souk from scratch in La Puebla de Castro
When we say that at Culture Games we take culture seriously (and playfully), it's not just marketing.
This year, on the occasion of the "Bahlul, a legendary muladi" event in La Puebla de Castro, we embarked on one of the most exciting (and exhausting) challenges we've experienced as a team: creating all the decoration and atmosphere for the village's Muladi Souk from scratch.
And when we say "create," we're not talking about choosing decorations:
We're talking about hand-sewing every awning, painting every fabric, designing the tassels for the signs, and, of course, going out and installing everything ourselves.
Why a Muladi souk?
Because we didn't want a typical "medieval market."
We wanted something more authentic, more connected to the actual history of the region, something that linked to the Andalusian past and the figure of Bahlul ibn Marzuq, a key historical figure in the history of Upper Aragon.
A Muladi souk is something different:
More intimate, more cultural, less touristy.
A space to converse, to taste flavors of yesteryear, to connect with our historical roots.
The event: between living culture and played cards
Throughout the weekend, in addition to decorating the streets with banners and structures made by ourselves, we also:
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Organized a themed market with selected stalls
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Had our own stall adding to the atmosphere
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Accompanied the historical reenactment of Bahlul, a legendary muladi
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And we talked a lot. With neighbors, with visitors, about games, about history, about traditions and legends, from there and from other places in Aragon where they came from.
What we gained
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A strong connection with the territory: when you get so involved in something, the town notices. We felt part of the community, and that is priceless.
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The power to transform a space: seeing ordinary streets turn into a souk full of color, the smell of spices, and history was magical.
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A reaffirmation: intangible heritage lives when we bring it to life. And if you do it with enthusiasm (even if it also causes muscle soreness), it shows.
We keep playing, but also decorating (if necessary)
This is not just a blog to tell you what we did. It's also an invitation:
To towns that want to reinvent their history,
To groups that wish to recover cultural memory through play,
And to those who believe—like us—that you don't need a castle to tell a good story. Sometimes, all it takes is a desire to relive the past.
These last few weeks have been incredible, thanks to Pedro and Miryam for their trust, to the entire Foro de Estudios Puéblense for their great work, and to the La Puebla de Castro town council for their support.
