It is believed to have originated during the Middle Ages, and slowly evolved from burning scrap materials to wax dolls before it reached its current form. Everybody – every generation – is present at Las Fallas. They looked as if they stepped out of the sixteenth century that morning, complete with hooped skirts, lace veils and heavy jewellery. You may hear or see the festival being referred to as Fallas (in Spanish) or Falles (in Valencian). ), and the religious aspects of it are pretty unique as well. Dads would demonstrate how to throw firecrackers (labelled as suitable for ages ‘3+’) to their wide-eyed sons. But not in Spain. The traditions are front and centre: with the two main streets (Calle de la Paz and Calle San Vicente Martir) closed off on the 17th and 18th March for a traditional flower procession towards Plaza de la Reina, you really can’t escape it. While many take to setting off their own fireworks during Las Fallas, every day also includes a professionally coordinated show during the afternoon. This is coming from a girl who hardly notices children, bar my own little cousins. And all would hold their parents’ hands, led around the city streets until the early hours of the morning. They don’t annoy me. Writing this blog is part the evidence she’ll need in the future to prove that it was all real. Each morning, brass bands play throughout the streets of Valencia to awaken its residents for the festivities. But what exactly does falla mean? Dads would demonstrate how to throw firecrackers (labelled as suitable for ages ‘3+’) to their wide-eyed sons. , taking in their intricate details. And nothing stands in the way when it comes to having a good time, at any age. Spain may be a bit all over the place in terms of organisation most days of the year, but the Valencians know how to work a parade. Find out the most important facts you need to know about the festival, and when you come to Valencia you’ll feel right at home among the falleros and falleras. The Spanish culture is deeply intertwined with religious traditions (the Catholic Church played a prominent role throughout much of the nation’s history). If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Las Fallas festival is your kind of event — a loud, smoky, high-spirited fiesta where flickering flames dance in the streets and plazas of Valencia! Visitors and tourists can enjoy many culinary traditions in addition to the cultural. And get your photo taken countless times; women were quick to pose whenever a camera was raised. Another theory claims that the practice dates back to time immemorial, from the ancient tradition of setting fires to celebrate equinoxes and solstices (i.e., changes of the seasons). Check out other Spanish festivals to plan your trip around. And I mean, really can’t escape it. I suppose you could see it as a lesson in not getting too attached to material things. And I mean, really can’t escape it. Thousands of Valencians take part in the parade, hailing from all over the city and beyond in the greater Valencian Community (an autonomous state in Spain). When you sign up for a Spanish course in Valencia, you can learn Spanish while discovering this truly one-of-a-kind celebration! Do fires make you smile? Today, the word fallas has many different meanings: it may be used to refer to the festival itself, the fires that form part of the festival, the scenes that are built and later set on fire, or the communities of neighbors who manage and carry out the construction of the figures. I’d ma, We don’t have castles or palaces in Australia, s, Paul’s a city planner, so he was keen to see the, Even though I’ve moved back to Melbourne, I’ve, Time to discover a bit of my own backyard. For the most authentic local experience, try the Valencian classic bunyols de carabassa (pumpkin fritters) with a cup of chocolate. Firecrackers and other pyrotechnics are often included in its construction. Do you secretly harbor pyrotechnic urges that are only socially acceptable on the Fourth of July? Residents of the city spend the entire year preparing for the celebration, which lasts for five consecutive days. It’s more interesting than I thought. People may disagree about the origins of the Las Fallas, but we do know that the festival is hundreds of years old: the first written record that mentions Las Fallas is from the second half of the 18th century, when the Valencian government made various laws governing where the fires could be set. Perhaps as a result, many of the Caribbean ’ to me being to... Go to Spain to witness Las Fallas before, but I really like watching it the! 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