Fallas - Valencia

Fallas (15th-19th of March)

In the Region of Valencia we celebrate, Light, colour and fire  for a couple of days. 

Fallas in Valencia. For five days, fireworks, mascletaes and monuments are the protagonists of different cities sound of music of the bands and the masclets.

The Falles is  the most internationally know festivity, it's a traditional celebration held in commemoration of Saint Joseph in the city of Valencia, in Spain. The term Falles refers to both the celebration and the monuments created during the celebration.

Each neighbourhood of the city has an organized group of people, the Casal faller, that works all year long for having everything ready for that week.

Each casal faller produces a construction known as a falla which will be burnt 19th of March

The monuments are constructed according to theme that is a satire about society, politicians, sports...

There are more than 500 different falles in Valencia, that means more than 500 monuments!

The five days and nights of Falles are a non-stop party.

The most important events in Fallas are: La Mascletà, La Plantà, L'Ofrena, Els Castells and La Cremà

• La Mascletà

The Mascletà, an explosive barrage of coordinated firecracker and fireworks displays, takes place at 2pm in the Plaça de l'Ajuntament (City hall square) from 1st till 19th of March.

At 2:00 pm the Fallera Mayor calls from the balcony of City Hall, Senyor pirotècnic, pot començar la mascletà! ("Mr. Pyrotechnic, you may commence the Mascletà!"), and it begins.

The Mascletà is almost unique to the Valencia Region

Fireworks and gunpower are a huge tradition in Valencia, strongly connected to our culture as much than the paella.

 

Mascletà

 

• La Plantà

The day of the 15th all the monuments have to be completed and in their places, for taking part in the contest.

• L'Ofrena floral

The floral offering, in this event each falla takes an offering of flowers to Saint Mary (Verge dels Desamparats) Patron Saint. This takes place all day during 17 and 18 March. A huge statue of Saint Mary is covered with all the flowers.

• Els Castells

On the nights of the 15, 16, 17, and 18th there are firework displays in the old riverbed in Valencia. Last is called La Nit del Foc (the Night of Fire).

• La Cremà

On the final night of Falles, around midnight on March 19, the falles are burnt as huge bonfires. This is known as the cremà (the burning)

Falles burn quite quickly, and the heat given off is felt by all around. The heat from the larger ones often drives the crowd back a couple of metres, firemen are working all night and even come to Valencia that night firemen from around the world, to see how works, learn and living that unique experience.

The whole city looks like an open-air dance party.

There are stalls selling typical products such as "churros" and "buñuelos". Great mix of smells.

During Falles, many people wear the regional and historical valencian costumes from 18th or 19th century

Fallas is an experience that you will never forget.