The Fallas

With thousands of light bulbs strung in garlands and hanging from columns, Valencia, in all its vivacious splendour and amidst the eager revelry of its people, stages the most spectacular of festivals: the Fallas.

The Fallas were born in the very heart of the town. A town that has always basked resplendently in sunshine and blue skies, in serene, romantic nights; where flower gardens and vegetable gardens, the inhabitants of alleyways and neighbourhoods co-exist in complete naturalness and simplicity.

When autumn arrived and the days became shorter, artisans were able to continue their work by the light of crafted wooden lamps known as parot, estai, pagés, pelmodo or perniodol, providing light for apprentices, journeymen and master craftsemen to continue working.

In the spring, as the days became longer, the lamps were not needed and were ceremoniously burnt at the workshop door. To this small fire the craftsmen added off-cuts, wood shavings and leftovers from around the neighbourhood. The old lamp was placed in a vertical position in the centre, decorated with old rags and a hat, giving it a human form - the Ninot Falla. This was how the Ninot came about. The only thing then was for the Ninot (a caricature of any local, national or international figure) to be put on top of a pedestal for all to see and laugh at. When these things come together, we have an authentic Valencian Falla.

On 1st March, the first of the mascletas (an explosion of firecrackers) in the square in front of the City Hall announces the start of the festival period, although the most important events begin on the 16th, by which time the city has been decorated with over 700 symbols and figures. Throughout the day, mass gatherings take place including the despertas (a firecracker wake-up call to the neighbourhood) and magnificent firework displays.

The biggest and most spectacular event is the Ofrenda de Flores a la Virgen de los Desamparados (a floral offering to our Lady of the Forsaken). On 17th and 18th March, from 4pm until nightfall, there is an enormous multi-coloured parade with the members of the Fallas wearing their marvellous, intricately decorated, traditional costumes and carrying bunches of flowers as an offering to their Patron Saint.

At midnight on 19th, the dramatic closing act takes place. All, except one ninot chosen by the people from all the different fallas, are set alight and burnt.

The development of the festival as we know it today began in the second half of the 19th century. The fallas and ninots are ephemeral, ornamental and satirical symbols placed in the streets of the city as a humorous social or political comment. They may be human, animal or vegetable in form, portraying a critique of a local, national or international incident, personality or character. There is great irony involved and the ceremonial burning is an act of purification that takes place at midnight on El Día de San Jose (St Joseph's day).

The fire is the festival; a graphic symbol of joy and happiness that dominates all events that take place during the Semana Fallera (Fallera Week).