FALLAS

FALLAS, where do I begin?  Here's a recap from a website that details Spanish festivals:  Las Fallas of Valencia is a loud, smoky, high-spirited fiesta where the whole town is set ablaze.  It literally means "the fires" in Valencian. The focus of the fiesta is the creation and destruction of ninots (“puppets” or “dolls” - the fallas), which are huge cardboard, wood, paper-machè and plaster statues. The ninots are extremely lifelike and usually depict bawdy, satirical scenes and current events.  The fallas remain in place until March 19th, the day known as La Cremá (the burning). Starting in the early evening, young men with axes chop cleverly-hidden holes in the statues and stuff them with fireworks. The crowds start to chant, the streetlights are turned off, and all of the fallas are set on fire at exactly midnight.

 

Spontaneous fireworks displays explode everywhere during the days leading up to La Crema, but the highlight is the daily mascletá which occurs in the Plaza Ayuntamiento at exactly 2pm. When the string-lined firecrackers are ignited, the thunderous, rythmitic sounds they make can be considered music as the sound intensifies in volume. Those firecrackers timed to fall to the ground literally shake the floor for next ten minutes, as the mascletá is more for auditive enjoyment than visual. 

 (Soooo many people!)

 (BOOM.)

Along with this we have the nightly fireworks show, which starts at 1 am and usually lasts about ten minutes.

("Castillo" - nighttime fireworks)

(Three "falleras" in the procession; Plaza de la Reina)

Things that should NOT alarm you during Fallas:

- four year olds throwing "petardos" (fireworks) in the streets

 

(Cuantos anos tieneis???)

 - fourteen year olds ordering drinks at bars.  When we called a few of them out, we got the typical reply from the bartender:  "Estamos in Espana.  No pasa nada....." = "We're in Spain.  No problem/it's all good."

- Class being canceled for the entire week so that professors and students alike can celebrate

- "Despertá" - waking up to the sound of fireworks every morning at 7 or 8 am

- Babies, literally ten-month olds, at a bar with their parents at 5 am

- An eighteen wheeler that turns into a 30 foot stage every night down the street from mi casa

(Played some pretty good covers - Total Eclipse of the Heart, Mama Mia)

 (Lights on Calle Cuba.  I'm sorry to admit that this is a borrowed pic from Jackie's album - when I finally headed over there after the burnings they were shut off.  Super depressing.  But seriously, amazing, right??)

BTW, Tyler Cole came to visit for the weekend!  He has a superguay camera and took some great pics, so check them out on Facebook.  Al fin, Las Fallas, which really is one of the best kept secrets in Europe, was an amazing bonus to this semester.  While many Valencians can't wait to see the week come and go, I could definitely see myself returning to the city during this annual celebration in the future.