I have mentioned Fallas before but never really described in detail what exactly Fallas is. So I've pulled together different information I gathered on Fallas, so here goes!
What are Fallas?
"The Fallas are unique. For several days in March (15th to 19th), this festival converts the towns of the Valencian Community into a momentary street art museums to celebrate the arrival of spring. Around 800 monuments made of wood, cartón piedra (literally "stone cardboard", similar to paper maché) and other materials, including Styrofoam, fill the city's streets. Music, gunpowder and traditional clothing are all essential ingredients. Its creative values and practical rituals have resulted in the festival being declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO."
Origin of the Fallas
"According to certain reports, with the arrival of spring, when the days started to get longer, bonfires were made with wood and old furniture. Often, dolls were added to criticize the behavior and attitude of neighbors. The first records of the Fallas of Valencia appear from the 18th Century. The neighborhood based festival was joined by the work of carpenters, in honor of their patron Saint Joseph, and other professionals who helped spread it throughout the city, reaching over one thousand Fallas commissions. From the outset, the festival has evolved consistently thanks to its critical and cultural outlook and rejuvenating spirit."
Key elements of Fallas
Fallas artists - architects, sculptors, painters and decorators of different levels of versatility, imagination and creativity.
Pyrotechnics - which date back to the times of the Muslim presence in Valencia, are one of the basic elements of the festival. Of all the Fallas events, pyrotechnics might be the most important. They give Fallas a sound that will take your breath way and make your heart beat in an excited fashion, mixing color and rhythm and sound in perfect harmony.
Music - Musical tradition in Valencia, based on music associations and tabal and dolçaina groups. The city's streets are ALIVE at ALL hours with the music!!!
Whether it is DRUMMING BANDS
OR MARCHING BANDS
Fallas commissions - these groups are responsible for organizing the festival in each neighborhood. Our friends Celine and John organized a visit to one older Falla called Pintor Segrelles. They really are like a social club. They pay memberships and many fund their own mascletá's and Falla monument. Pintor Segrelles cost about $28,000. Of course they need to purchase a large insurance policy in case when the Crema (the burn) happens they burn something else down!
Clothing - In all official acts, the falleros and falleras dress in their best attire, recalling the elegance displayed by Valencians in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is the official clothing of the festival, something that has served to recover a number of garments, accessories and a large variety of shapes and colors that show the richness of traditional Valencian dress.
The Ninot exhibition - Ninots are the figures that form the scenes of the Fallas monuments. We visited this exhibition in the beginning February when our niece Kimberly and Erwan were visiting from München, Germany. You vote for 2 that get "pardoned" and therefore will NOT be burnt on March 19th.
In my February post I featured some of my favorite Ninot's, however here are a few more for your viewing pleasure
The Crida - this is the opening ceremony including light, sound, music and pyrotechnics.
The Mascletás - every day from March 1 to 19 at 2:00pm - the pyrotechnic show lasts between 5 and 7 minutes and has a determined rhythm, where gunpowder explosions gradually increase with an amazing finale!
The Plantá - March 15th the Fallas artists leave the Fallas completely finished and ready to be visited on the streets.
Fireworks displays - on the nights of the 15th to the 18th at the Turia Gardens (between the Exposición and Las Flores bridges) the fireworks takes place. The MOST spectacular display is known in Valencian as Nit del Foc - Noche del Fuego in Spanish or (night of fire) are held on the 18th and 19th. We went to both, the 18th was at 12:30am and on the 19th at 1:30am. On the 19th there were well over 1 million people in are around the Turia river to see this fireworks display at 1:30am!
The Flower offering - La Oferenda
La Crema - the burning of all the Fallas
Personal fireworks - for the 5 days of Fallas (15th to 19th) ALL day and ALL night people, including girls, boys and adults are exploding fireworks. Both girls and boys have these wonderful wooden boxes they wear over their shoulder that carries all of their fireworks. Some have personalized their boxes over the years.
As you might expect the adults blow off HUGE/LOUD explosive fireworks, quite near you. They sound and feel like mini bombs, they are called petardos.
Temporary Buñuelos, Churro and whaffle kiosks
During Fallas the smell of deep fried buñuelos and churros blend with the constant smell of smoke and gunpowder.
On almost every other corner is a shop making buñuelos
No comments:
Post a Comment