VALENCIA – Las Fallas is a traditional festival that involves thousands of Valencians in an exercise of collective creativity. During March, the city of Valencia is converted into the biggest urban art festival to celebrate the arrival of spring.
The streets of Valencia are filled with the sounds of fireworks, music, and laughter as locals and tourists alike come together to celebrate. There is something going on in almost every corner.
A traditional festival
Las Fallas is a traditional festival in honour of Saint Joseph (19 March) held every year in Valencia. If you are lucky enough to be there, this amazing event is on now until around midnight on Sunday. It is a good idea to download the official app to your mobile. Simply go to your Playstore, and search for appValencia.
Neighbourhoods or associations work together to create enormous puppets. These puppets often tell stories in a humorous or cynical manner about the state of the Spanish or global economy, society, or politics. The puppets are scattered throughout the city and are often over twenty metres high. Some smaller puppets are made for children.
La Cremá
The fallas are displayed throughout the city for several days, and on the final night of the festival, they are set on fire in a spectacular display of flames and fireworks. This event, known as La Cremà, is a symbolic way of saying goodbye to the old and welcoming in the new.
In addition to the fallas, the festival also features a range of other activities, including parades, concerts, and traditional dances. The streets are filled with food stalls, selling everything from traditional Spanish paella to churros and chocolate.
Mascletàs
One of the unique features of Los Fallas is the tradition of mascletàs. These are firework displays that take place in the Plaza de Ayuntamiento (town hall square) at 2.00 pm each day. The mascletàs are incredibly loud and are meant to simulate the sound of an earthquake.
The festival has a long history, dating back to the Middle Ages when carpenters would burn their wooden lamps to celebrate the arrival of spring. Over time, the festival grew in size and popularity, with the fallas becoming a central part of the celebrations.
Also read: Festivals, Ferias and Celebrations in Spain 2023
Today, Las Fallas attracts visitors from all over the world. Hundreds of thousands of people flock to Valencia to experience the festival first-hand. It is a vibrant and colourful celebration of Spanish culture and a testament to the resilience and spirit of the people of Valencia.
Las Fallas is a truly unique and unforgettable festival that should be experienced by anyone with a love of art, culture, and celebration. The combination of the fallas, the mascletàs, and the other events and activities make it a truly immersive and unforgettable experience. If you have the chance to visit Valencia during the festival, do not miss it!
