My Life in Valencia

We are officially in Fallas season here in Valencia and the peak of the festival is a mere week away. While many of you have heard me talk about Fallas you probably are still not sure of what it is. It’s a hard festival to explain and really the only way to really understand it is to experience it. I’m very much looking forward to Fallas this year as one of my dearest and oldest friends is coming. In preparation for this year’s Fallas I thought I would give you a little historical overview with some photos from last year’s Fallas.

HISTORY

Although no one exactly certain of the origins, there are several different theories as to how it started. One version that is probably the most popular is that it comes from a centuries old Valencian tradition in which the city’s carpenters would burn old materials that they didn’t need on the day before the day of St. Joseph (March 19), the patron saint of carpenters. They would also burn the torches that they would use to work at night. Since this was also around the spring equinox, the days were longer and they didn’t need the light at night any more. The second theory surrounds that of the spring equinox…setting fire to celebrate the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The third theory has more European roots in which figurines representing personas non grata would be flung into a fire. While the first theory is the most common all of them actually can be seen in today’s celebration of las Fallas.

What IS a Fallas?

While Las Fallas (or Las Falles in Valencian) is the name of the festival, the word Fallas has different meanings in different contexts. The original definition of Fallas means torch. Today, Fallas refers to the festival during which these torches were used to light bonfires but it also has other meanings. A Falla is also the scenes-representations or figures that are built and then eventually burned. The construction of these Fallas is a huge industry here in Valencia taking almost a year to design and construct. They also are often satirical and political in nature and often comment on current local and global issues of the moment. A Fallas is also the community or neighbourhood who manage and carry out the construction of the figures. Fallas, the fiscal representations or figures, are made of paper mache and wood and can range in size and complexity. The different figures or dolls that make of parts of the larger scene are known as ninots. A fallera/fallero is a a woman/man part of the Fallas and the Fallera Mayor is the main female representative of the Fallas neighbourhood.

FALLAS Today

There are around 800 different Fallas monuments all over the city of Valencia, all differing in size. There are 9 Special Fallas which are the largest and most impressive. Every year one of the Special Fallas is voted the best Fallas. Last year, surprisingly my neighbour’s Falla (which is at the end of my street), won! I have to say it was pretty impressive and my favourite last year. In addition to the actual Fallas monuments there is a lot of ceremony and fanfare that happens as part of the festival. Starting in March, every day at 2pm there is a Mascletá which is a very loud pyrotechnic event (think fireworks sound without the fireworks) which lasts about 10 minutes. It’s amazing the number of people who will gather in the main plaza for hours to experience a Mascletá. It’s many a Valencian’s favourite part! There is also the beautiful Ofrenda in which the Falleras y Falleros of each Falla parade with beautiful flowers to the Plaza de la Virgen. Pictures from this year to come but for now, here are some highlights from last year.