Fallas of Valencia- Valencia Spain
March 16 – March 19
Fallas of Valencia
The Fallas of Valencia: Festival declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity
From the 1st to 19th March, Valencia is overturned by Fallas celebrations, a festivity that combines tradition, satire and art which shouldn’t be missed for anything in the world. Read on to learn where our passion for fire and fun comes from and you’ll be ready to enjoy Fallas like a Valencian.
ORIGIN OF THE FALLAS
The origin of las Fallas comes from the old carpenter’s tradition who, when celebrating the arrival of spring on 19th March, used to burn pieces of wood (parots) that were used to prop up their lights during the winter.
To this bonfire they gradually started to add old belongings and rags, which gave the wooden structure a human-looking aspect, until they became the ninots that we know today. The Valencian sense of humour soon gave the irony shown in the ninots which is maintained at present.
The Fallas celebrations have evolved into temporary works of art which, in some cases, cost millions of euros.
The Crema, the day when the Fallas are burned to mark the beginning of spring
The “Noche de la Cremà” (The Evening the Fallas are burned) is March 19, St. Joseph’s Day. The Valencians say goodbye to the fallas, reducing all the fallas monuments to ashes. It is the major falleras of each commission that light the fuse to start the Cremà.
At 08:00 pm the children’s fallas are burned and at 10:00 pm the large ones, except the first prize of the Special Section and that of the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, which will burn at 10:30 pm and 11:00 pm respectively.