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Valencia Fallas 2008
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The Fallas 2008 - The Triumph of Fire
The Valencia Fallas festivity burns away winter worries in a tribute to spring. As a pagan ritual originating in ancient Meditarranean cultures brought to the shores of Valencia in remote times, this artistic display totally transforms the city during what is called "Fallas Week". True to the saying, only those who have actually seen it can believe it.
Some 700 fallas, or large and small papier-mache monuments mounted over wood frames, are burnt to cinders on the 19th March in a tribute to St Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, and to the coming of the spring solstice. It is a ritual recovered from pre-Christian times which the Catholic church now rightfully claims as its own, paying homage to Our Lady of the Forsaken, the city's patron saint.
A falla (the monument itself) originated from the wooden candleholders, called "parots" or "pelmodos" that city carpenters used in their workshops during the winter, bringing them out into the streets in the spring and burning them up in a night-time celebration. It was customary to adorn these "stands" with old clothes and even to place masks over them to imitate some local character. They would then be immolated to celebrate the coming of warm weather.
The "parot" then was converted into a humerous character known as a "ninot" from the word meaning something like "a doll, a grotesque figurine, a chump". They were made in an ironic tone to look like local authority figures, clergymen, ladies and squires etc.
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Although some "ninots" are saved from the flames by popular vote, fallas artists also get together to rescue other characters or figurines or even whole sections of a monument. These unburnt representations can be seen at the Fallas Guild Museum. It is located in the quarter of the city known as Cuidad Fallera with workshops and factory bays. Work continues here throughout the year in preparation for the spring festivity. |
| The atmosphere in Valencia during the Fallas symbolises the flowering gardens and orchards in the spring. Marching bands play from morning till night and the day is started with bangers and rockets "la desperta" the "wake up" fireworks.
From the 1st March the noisy displays called the "mascleta" are staged at 14.00 every day in Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
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The fallas festivity has always included a flower offering to Our Lady of the Forsaken since 1945. Two afternoons are dedicated to the parades composed of all the Fallas Commissions, headed by the Fallas Queens and their Courts of Honour. Traditional costumes are worn and baskets full of flowers are carried.
Guarded by the Miguelete tower, the Plaza de la Virgen is transformed into a flower garden during the offering. The facade of the basilica becomes a floral tapestry that covers the entire wall, giving shape to a huge representation of Our Lady.
Info: Turisme Generalitat Valenciana
The Valencia Trader will be covering Las Fallas 2008 in Valencia with more articles, pictures and stories. If you are considering visiting Fallas 2008 then you need to start thinking about booking your flights and accommodation now. Enjoy!
For accommodation go to: - Hotels Valencia
Created: 2005-09-02 11:03:45 | Updated: 2008-02-18 10:15:26
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GPFallas in Benicarlo : The GPFallas take place on 15th and 16th March 2008 in Benicarlo, Castellon. [more...]
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2007 Official Fallas Programme : Fallas 2007 is coming soon! [more...]
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Fallas - La Crida : The last Sunday in February is La Crida, the offical start of Las Fallas. [more...]
Download Videos for the 2006 Mascleta for Las Fallas Valencia : This fantastic page from the www.fallas.com website allows the downloading and viewing (at your leisure - and pump up the volume!) of each day's Mascleta for the 2006 Las Fallas. [more...]
Cabalgata del Ninot : Cabalgata del Ninot parade takes place on Saturday 11 March. [more...]
Fallas 2006 Winner : First prize is the Special Section has been won by Nou Campanar for "Everything for One Hundred" [more...]
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Fallas Fiesta in Elda : Enjoy the most characteristic acts of the Fallas, such as the Plantà (Placing) of the monuments, the Floral Offering or the Cremà (Burning), but moved in the calendar to the month of September. [more...]
Next Falla Queens Named : Valencia Mayoress Rita Barbera had the happy duty last night of calling the winners of the competition to be next year’s Falla Queens. [more...]
The First Stage : The Palau de la Musica in Valencia last night was the setting for the first of the important activities of this years’ Falla Queens. [more...]
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Exhibition Inaugurated : Valencia Mayoress Rita Barbera, along with Falla Queens Marta Reglero and Inmaculada Escudero, yesterday inaugurated the annual exhibit of ‘Ninots’ of the Fallas in a 1,750 square metre marquee that had been installed outside the Nuevo Centro in Valencia. [more...]
Something Completly Different : Valencia Town Hall and the Valencian Government announced jointly that this year a special ‘Sea Falla’ made out of biodegradable materials would be set up off Valencia port ‘in order to involve all the Americas Cup teams in our celebrations’. [more...]
Getting Started : Marta Reglero, the Falla Queen for this year, will start the Falla season this evening with the traditional ‘Crida’ that announces to the world that the ‘fiesta of San Jose is upon us’. [more...]
Controversy : Those who live in Calle Sueca of Valencia are said to be studying legal measures in order to curtail ‘the activities of the Sueca/ Literato Azorin Falla Chapter’ over the installation of the lights it usually uses. [more...]
Going to the Mascleta : The celebrative Mascleta marking the start of the Falla season was marked by another event: the presence in the crowds of Rita Barbera, the Mayoress of Valencia, who instead of starting the event from the Town Hall Balcony, came down to take her place amongst the public for the event. [more...]
Going Up : Despite the winds yesterday, some of the squares of Valencia saw the start of the erection of the Falla monuments. [more...]
Court Case Begins : The environmental Prosecutor of the Valencian Court yesterday started a preliminary investigation over whether the illuminated Falla of the Sueca/Literato Azorin Chapter, which is in the Ruzafa area of Valencia, has been set up legally. [more...]
Collapse : A huge statue of an elephant that formed the main part of the Antigua de Campanar Falla Chapter’s monument collapsed as it was being installed yesterday afternoon, damaging two other statues [more...]
BullFighter in Hospital : Bullfighter Fernando Cruz was seriously injured yesterday as he fought the second bull of the day in the bullring in Valencia as part of the Falla Fiestas. [more...]
Saved : Members of the Almirante Cadarso/Conde de Altea Falla Chapter were celebrating last night after one of the figures from their Falla was named as this year’s Ninot Indultat Infantil. [more...]
Closed Off : Valencia Town Hall advises that due to the Falla Festivities, the central part of the city will be closed to traffic from 3 pm today until 4 am on March 20. [more...]
Let the Festivities Begin : Yesterday the official setting up of all the 760 Falla monuments started in Valencia. Included in this figure are the 380 large monuments, one of which is being set up in front of Valencia Town Hall. [more...]
And the Winner Is... : The winning Falla this year, built for the Nou Campanar Falla Chapter by Pedro Santaeulalia, is working in collaboration with MediaPro and NeoMedia Audiovisual is offering extensive pool coverage to TV stations around the world. [more...]
A Falla Disaster : A van carrying fireworks exploded yesterday morning as it was nearing its destination – to supply material for a nearby Falla and its midday Mascleta. [more...]
The Fallas (2): Winners Received : Yesterday Francisco Camps, the President of the Valencian Community, received the winning Nou Campanar Falla Chapter at the Palau de la Generalitat in Valencia. [more...]
The Fallas (1) : As the Falla celebrations reach their zenith, it was that the 27-year-old man who was admitted to hospital after the van full of fireworks exploded in Valencia was released yesterday. [more...]
Fallas (3) : Despite the winds last night, the ceremonial burning of the 760 Fallas took place as usual and on schedule [more...]
Fallas (1) : The balcony of Valencia Town Hall once again yesterday was the scene of a gathering of numerous personalities for the final Mascleta of the Falla season [more...]
The Fallas: Still Standing : It was revealed yesterday that due to the winds, the burning of at least 13 monuments in Naquera and Carcaixent did not take place on advice from the Valencian fire services. [more...]
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