Ciberfallas International

The mascletà itself is like a concert of gunpowder: pyrotechnicians carefully study the rhythm of firework sequences, launches and whistles, combining them in a spectacular crescendo that concludes with the “terremoto” (earthquake): hundreds of “masclets” exploding on the ground simultaneously. All of this happens in barely six or seven minutes.

Mascletà fallas photo:ciberfallas.com

There is no fireworks display comparable to a “mascletà” and the emotions it arouses can only be understood by experiencing it at least once. Read the rest of this entry »

La Crida marks the official opening of the Fallas Festival.

Crowds of onlookers and all the Fallas Committees gather beneath the Serranos Towers, one of historical Valencia’s best-known monuments, usually on the last Sunday in February.

Crida 2009 Photo:Lázaro de la Peña

After a spectacular inaugural display of light, sound, music and fireworks, the “Fallera Mayor” of Valencia (elected festival queen), surrounded by her Court of Honour and the city authorities, invites everyone to enjoy the imminent fiesta, proclaiming its excellence and virtues. Read the rest of this entry »

Ninot indultat 2009 (Federico Ferrer) Foto: Ciberfallas.com

The “ninots” are the figures that make up the scenes in the Fallas monuments. At the beginning of February, each commission contributes its best ” ninot ” (just one) to a collective exhibition that is open to the public up to the day of the “plantà” (the finishing touch), when each figure is collected by its commission, during a noisy procession with whistles and brass bands, and taken to the monument it forms a part of.

Each visitor to this exhibition has the chance to choose, from among them all, the “ninot” that he or she likes best: whether because of its originality or its design. When the time comes to close the exhibition, the votes are added up and the “ninot” with the largest number of votes is pardoned: it will have the honour of being the only “ninot” in all of Valencia that, officially, will not burn on the night of the 19th. Read the rest of this entry »

Gremio Artistas Falleros foto:Ciberfallas.com

The enormous number of professionals that depend directly or indirectly on the Fallas Fiesta gives an idea of how large and important it has become for the city.

The role of the “artista fallero” or Fallas artist should be highlighted. This professional is more than a sculptor of huge figures, more than a painter, and more than a carpenter. In fact, the “artista fallero” is a kind of “total artist” who plans the monument in his mind and then gives it shape, assisted by his own team of specialists.. Read the rest of this entry »

Casal Albacete-Marvá

This is the main office and business headquarters of each Fallas Committee. Above and beyond that, though, “El Casal” is the neuralgic centre of the group’s daily frenzy of activity, not just during the Fallas Festival, but also during the rest of the year.

It is there where the Fallas’ financial and business organisation takes place and, when the fiesta arrives, the Casal doors are opened up to locals, tourists and “Falleros” from other commissions to share such a special time with them. Read the rest of this entry »

These are groups in charge of organising and setting up the Fallas Fiesta. They take their names from the intersection of streets or squares where they set up their Fallas monument.
The Committee’s members pay a monthly fee that entitles them to take part in countless activities, competitions, celebrations and events throughout the whole year.

Crida 2006

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Fallera Mayor of Valencia de 2008

The revered figure of the Fallas Queen acquires more importance than the President of the Fallas Commission himself. She is chosen from among the young ladies belonging to the Commission.

She will have her own Court of Honour comprising a selection of graceful young ladies. All this is arranged long before the actual festivity in what is known as the “exaltation”, or the election of the Adult and Child Queens and their Courts. Read the rest of this entry »

The "plantà"

This is a term in Valencian which, in translation, means something like “finishing touches”. It is actually the moment when the Falla’s top part is finally put in place. Since the Fallas are higher and more spectacular every year, the positioning of these pieces has become a difficult task which may take several days and which is observed with great expectation by dozens of onlookers.

Over time, the expression has become generalised: the “plantà” is now taken to be the exact moment when the Falla is completely finished and ready to be visited, with all its “ninots”, posters and various details (grass, lights, explanatory signs, etc.)

This takes place on the night of March 15th

Fallas from Valencia

"despertà"

Although written in Valencian, the term is quite explicit: the “despertà” refers to the act of waking up the neighbourhood. How? Very simple: by setting off hundreds of firecrackers first thing in the morning. The “Falleros” come out into the streets at dawn, armed with a kind of local firecracker known as “tró de bac”, which has no fuse and is set off by throwing it at the ground, making a very loud bang.

This is a celebration that increasingly enjoys the participation of people unaffiliated with the commissions and which takes place in a permanent atmosphere of fun and noise.

"despertà"

A tremendous celebration of fire, the spectacular Cabalgata del Fuego (Fire Parade) takes to the streets of Valencia in the evening of 19th March.

Fire is the fiesta’s symbolic spirit and the Fallas final destination. So this parade is an exhibition of the varied rites and displays from around the world which, use fire as a basic feature.

This is a colourful, noisy event, with floats, giant mechanisms, people in costumes, rockets, gunpowder, street performances, music… All at nightfall, as the time approaches for the “Ninots” (sculptures) to be consumed by flames.