The Valencian Bonfire Week! From 15th to 19th March
Fallas is a traditional celebration held in commemoration of Saint Joseph in Valencia, Spain. The term Fallas refers to both the celebration and the monuments created during the celebration.
Each neighbourhood of the city has an organized group of people that works all year long holding fundraising parties and dinners, usually featuring the famous specialty paella. Each neighbourhood produces a sculpture known as a Falla which is eventually burnt and are made, mainly, of cardboard and wood.
The sculptures are design in a certain theme. Normally you can recognize various national and international happenings and figures in a sarcastic way. The figures withing the Falla are called Ninot.
Sometimes theses Fallas are more than 30 meters high and the most expensive Falla in the year 2009 cost approximately 1 million euro.
There are many events happening during these days and they are all named with Valencian words, the most important ones are:
La Plantà: on the 15th March. All the neighborhoods set up their Fallas throughout the city, there will be more than 600! The plantà is officially scheduled between 8am and midnight, and once it’s done Fallas is really underway!
La Mascletà: an explosive barrage of coordinated firecracker and fireworks displays, takes place in each neighbourhood at 2:00 pm every day of the festival; the main event is the municipal Mascletà in the Plaça de l'Ajuntament where the pyrotechnicians compete for the honor of providing the final Mascletà of the fiestas (on March 19).
Don’t go if you have problems with your ears. They’re extremely loud, even if you’re prepared. If you’re unsure whether you’ll like it.
We recommend watching from the northern end of Plaza de l’Ayuntamiento. You can always get closer.
If you’re a daredevil or hate your eardrums, show up 20 minutes before 2pm and claim a front-row spot. Actually, for the last 5 mascletàs, make that an hour early, these are the most popular and the plaza will be packed.
Above all, if it gets too loud, don’t stick your finger in your ears. This prevents the regulation of air pressure and could damage your eardrum. The trick is to cover your whole ear with your hand and keep your mouth slightly open. Some Mascletas are organised by the beach at different times too.
L'Ofrena floral: Each falla neighborhood takes an offering of flowers to the virgin. This occurs all day on their days of March 17 and March 18. The virgin's body is then constructed with these flowers. Getting around the city is a tricky affair on these two days, over 100,000 falleros, falleras and musicians from all around the Valencian community storm towards the Plaza de la Virgen. The parades last around 7 hours on each day.
The music is lively and the falleras proud. And braving the crowd packing into the Plaza de la Virgen, in order to get a glimpse of the men creating the Mare de Deu’s dress of flowers, is something you simply have to do during Fallas
Els Castells and La Nit del Foc: On the nights of the 15, 16, 17, and 18th there are firework displays in the old riverbed in Valencia. Each night is progressively grander and the last is called La Nit del Foc, (the Night of Fire). These shows are always incredible, so it’s worth staying up late into the night to see it. They will be around 1am or even later. Over 4000 kilograms of gunpowder is used in a show that lasts over 20 minutes, and consists of one highlight on top of another. Expect over 500,000 people up to watch the fireworks on the last night.
La Cremà: Starting around midnight on the 19th March, all the Fallas figures are burned to the ground. The whole city seems to be in flames, and the huge bonfires on almost every block make for a surreal experience. Watching one of the large monuments burn is memorable. An act which combines melancholy and renewal in equal parts, la cremà is something that stays with you for awhile. By the next morning, everything’s cleaned up and back to normal — you’ll find yourself walking the city streets, wondering if everything was just a dream.
This festival is not for everyone. If you can’t tolerate noise and firecrackers, then you’d be well advised to stay away. As a matter of fact, many Valencians detest Fallas and vacate the city as the hordes of revelers arrive.
There are many parades in the streets during Fallas, that are nice and interesting to see, but the “Fire Parade” at the 19th of March 2012 can be really recommended.
Try to take a siesta. After the 2pm Mascletà, eat and rest up so you’re ready to go out again around 6. With luck, you’ll have energy enough to stay out until the early morning hours — just like a real Valencian!
While walking from monument to monument during Fallas, stock up on energy with buñuelos, which are sold on almost every street corner in Valencia during Fallas. Don’t forget to get a cup of super thick hot chocolate as well, for dunking.
A view of the city’s streets while the festival is on – and even a few days beforehand – is a sight worth seeing. The Fallas Committees decorate their districts with the most impressive artistic lighting.
Every corner of Valencia is decorated with a multicoloured display of hundreds of garlands of lights, in a multitude of shapes, colours and bold designs.
The lighting in the Ruzafa district is especially attractive, where narrow alleys combine with broad, spacious streets, providing a huge range of illumination possibilities.
Don’t wait around until the last minute to find accomodation. Prices climb as the festival nears — for example we saw a single dorm room bed being sold for €150 per person per night.
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