Las Fallas are to be celebrated for another year in the majority of the cities within the Comunitat Valenciana. The ‘falleros’ have already started preparations; setting up the statues that will be burned on the night of March 19th.
Life and colour in the street, the sound of rockets and firecrackers everywhere, "mascletás" (firework displays), parades ... are the traditional Valencian Fallas that will shortly be celebrated for another year during the week of March 19th.
Celebrating San José, the patron saint of carpenters, Las Fallas result from the simple burning of the carpenters waste; but the inventiveness of Valencia has managed to turn it into a celebration and a very important tourist attraction.
It can be considered as a Valencian carnival, with the caricatures that become cadafals (monuments) and burned the night of March 19th. Each committee (Fallero) places a monument in a street and enters a contest whereby "the best Falla" will be rewarded with the benefit of being the last to burn during the night of the “Cremá”.
This year, the Falleros have already begun to assemble their giant statues to assure that everything will be ready for this weekend.
Although there are still days left, the events and celebrations have already begun. More than 2,000 children have participated in the Children's Parade - “Ninot” where the princesses of old, magic and traditional Valencian clothing were the protagonists.
For anyone who has a week off and want to visit Valencia in Fallas, here we offer you the program of events:
Monday March 14, 2011
Mascletá; The Portuguese at 14:00 pm in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Closure of the Children’s Exhibition of Ninot at 15:00 pm.
Tuesday March 15, 2011
Setting up of all the Children's Fallas at 8:00 pm.
Mascletá; Firework display of Valencia at 14:00 in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Ninot Exhibition Closes at 18 hours.
At 0:00 pm, Castle Firework display by Turis.
Wednesday March 16, 2011
Plant all the Fallas at 08:00 am.
Mascletá; By Turis at 14:00 pm in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Awards ceremony for the Children’s Fallas and other related items at 16:30.
At 1:00 am, fireworks display by the Focs d'Artifice Europlá.
Thursday March 17, 2011
Awards ceremony for the Fallas and other related items 09:30 hours.
Mascletá; Focs d'Artifice Europlá at 14:00 pm in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Offering of Flowers to the Virgin of the Helpless from 16:00.
At 1:00 am, Castle Firework display by Caballer.
Friday March 18, 2011
Tribute to the poet Maximilian Thouscon at 11:00 with Traca Valencian fireworks.
Tribute to the poet Maestro Serrano at 12:00 with Mascletá Valenciana fireworks.
Mascletá Caballer at 14:00 in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Offering of Flowers to the Virgin of the Helpless from 16:00.
At 1:30 am, Castle Firework display by Ricardo Caballer.
Saturday March 19, 2011
Offering of Flowers at the Bridge of San Jose before the image of the Patriarch by the eldest of the Valencian Falleros and their Courts at 11:00.
Mass in honor of the Patriarch San Jose at 12:00 pm in the Cathedral of Valencia.
Mascaletá; Ricardo Caballer at 14:00 in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Fire Parade at 19:00.
Cremá of the Children's Fallas at 22:00.
Cremá of the Children’s First Prize winning Falla at 22:30.
Cremá of the Children’s Falla at the Town Hall Square at 23:00.
Cremá of all Fallas at 00:00 hours.
Cremá of the first prize falla at 00:30.
Cremá of the Falla in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento at 01:00 hours with Aerial Fire Pyrotechnics by Rich.
To give it a different and authentic touch they could not miss out the fireworks, where many companies are riding in trucks full of fireworks that will shoot up before the Cremá, not counting the thousands operated by the hands of ordinary citizens.
Getting to Valencia
The most comfortable, and taking advantage of the ample supply at this time; is to travel to Valencia by plane. Once in Valencia, the best option in order not to miss a single Falla is to rent a car at the airport. An internet recruiting service for car hire in Valencia, car hire Madrid, etc is a simple and inexpensive process.
Another possibility is to drive to the city with your own vehicle and keep it in a parking Valencia service and get around the city by public transport.
For more information please visit www.victoriacars.com
Life and colour in the street, the sound of rockets and firecrackers everywhere, "mascletás" (firework displays), parades ... are the traditional Valencian Fallas that will shortly be celebrated for another year during the week of March 19th.
Celebrating San José, the patron saint of carpenters, Las Fallas result from the simple burning of the carpenters waste; but the inventiveness of Valencia has managed to turn it into a celebration and a very important tourist attraction.
It can be considered as a Valencian carnival, with the caricatures that become cadafals (monuments) and burned the night of March 19th. Each committee (Fallero) places a monument in a street and enters a contest whereby "the best Falla" will be rewarded with the benefit of being the last to burn during the night of the “Cremá”.
This year, the Falleros have already begun to assemble their giant statues to assure that everything will be ready for this weekend.
Although there are still days left, the events and celebrations have already begun. More than 2,000 children have participated in the Children's Parade - “Ninot” where the princesses of old, magic and traditional Valencian clothing were the protagonists.
For anyone who has a week off and want to visit Valencia in Fallas, here we offer you the program of events:
Monday March 14, 2011
Mascletá; The Portuguese at 14:00 pm in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Closure of the Children’s Exhibition of Ninot at 15:00 pm.
Tuesday March 15, 2011
Setting up of all the Children's Fallas at 8:00 pm.
Mascletá; Firework display of Valencia at 14:00 in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Ninot Exhibition Closes at 18 hours.
At 0:00 pm, Castle Firework display by Turis.
Wednesday March 16, 2011
Plant all the Fallas at 08:00 am.
Mascletá; By Turis at 14:00 pm in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Awards ceremony for the Children’s Fallas and other related items at 16:30.
At 1:00 am, fireworks display by the Focs d'Artifice Europlá.
Thursday March 17, 2011
Awards ceremony for the Fallas and other related items 09:30 hours.
Mascletá; Focs d'Artifice Europlá at 14:00 pm in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Offering of Flowers to the Virgin of the Helpless from 16:00.
At 1:00 am, Castle Firework display by Caballer.
Friday March 18, 2011
Tribute to the poet Maximilian Thouscon at 11:00 with Traca Valencian fireworks.
Tribute to the poet Maestro Serrano at 12:00 with Mascletá Valenciana fireworks.
Mascletá Caballer at 14:00 in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Offering of Flowers to the Virgin of the Helpless from 16:00.
At 1:30 am, Castle Firework display by Ricardo Caballer.
Saturday March 19, 2011
Offering of Flowers at the Bridge of San Jose before the image of the Patriarch by the eldest of the Valencian Falleros and their Courts at 11:00.
Mass in honor of the Patriarch San Jose at 12:00 pm in the Cathedral of Valencia.
Mascaletá; Ricardo Caballer at 14:00 in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
Fire Parade at 19:00.
Cremá of the Children's Fallas at 22:00.
Cremá of the Children’s First Prize winning Falla at 22:30.
Cremá of the Children’s Falla at the Town Hall Square at 23:00.
Cremá of all Fallas at 00:00 hours.
Cremá of the first prize falla at 00:30.
Cremá of the Falla in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento at 01:00 hours with Aerial Fire Pyrotechnics by Rich.
To give it a different and authentic touch they could not miss out the fireworks, where many companies are riding in trucks full of fireworks that will shoot up before the Cremá, not counting the thousands operated by the hands of ordinary citizens.
Getting to Valencia
The most comfortable, and taking advantage of the ample supply at this time; is to travel to Valencia by plane. Once in Valencia, the best option in order not to miss a single Falla is to rent a car at the airport. An internet recruiting service for car hire in Valencia, car hire Madrid, etc is a simple and inexpensive process.
Another possibility is to drive to the city with your own vehicle and keep it in a parking Valencia service and get around the city by public transport.
For more information please visit www.victoriacars.com
