When the festival of San José approaches, on March 19, the air in Valencia is filled with the smell of gunpowder and the whole city is preparing for its most emblematic celebration: Las Fallas. If you have occasion to visit the capital of the Valencian Community those days, do not stop living them. The wonderful light of the Mediterranean joins the colorful flaws during the day and, at night, the fireworks, the parties, and finally the "cremà" , which is the moment when those incredible ephemeral works of art are set on fire, make the fallas a magical celebration and one of the curiosities of Spain . Join us to discover what are the faults of Valencia and what is the origin of the faults: a unique holiday what to see in Spain .
A fault is currently a sculpture or monument made with combustible materials that is planted in the streets of Valencia days before the festival of San José. The celebrations in honor of the saint begin with "la crida", the last weekend of February, and with "la mascletá" that takes place every day, between March 1 and 19, at 2 o'clock noon, In the town hall square. At that moment you hear the voice of the greater faller that says: "Senyor pirótecnic pot començar la mascletà" (Mr. pyrotechnic can start the mascletá).
What are the faults of Valencia: know this unique festivity
To know what Valencia's faults are, we must remember that its original meaning is the celebration of the festivities of San José, patron of the carpenters . The Valencian community, since the nineteenth century, has had a large number of industries and people dedicated to the furniture industry and it is not surprising that the parties in honor of their employer were exceptional.
1. Discover the origin of the faults of Valencia
The word "falla" comes from the Catalan or medieval Valencian and was the name of the torch that was placed in the watchtowers or that carried the troops at night to light their way . From there he went on to refer to the bonfires and lights that were lit at the festivities.
What are the faults of Valencia as we know them today have their origin in the spring burning that the Valencian carpenters did . For San José, they lit bonfires in which they burned the "parots", which were the structures on which hung the lamps that gave them light during the long dark winter days, and all the wooden elements left over from their workshops.
In addition, it was used to incinerate remains of clothes, old furniture and other combustible elements that they wanted to get rid of. The popular imagination began to form figures with these elements and from there arose the faults , which were quickly given the satirical and critical character that characterizes them.
Practically all the squares of the city plant their fault either large or childish, and the neighbors are involved throughout the year so that theirs is, if not the best, at least one successful failure. Each place has its faller commission, its falleras and its infantile falleras and there is no greater illusion for a Valencian girl than to dress the gala dress and to represent its failure in the diverse citizen events.
The City of Valencia plant in its square a large fault, which does not enter the contest, and which is usually one of the best each year. The major faller will represent all the falleras of Valencia in the official acts and being chosen is a great honor. All acts are directed by the Central Fallera Board.
2. More facts and curiosities about the failures of Valencia
- As we have said, the parties of the fallas of Valencia begin with the "crida" the last weekend of February and conclude on March 19 with the "cremà". The Fallas monuments must be planted before March 16 and the previous night is known as "la plantà". They burn four days later, the night of March 19.
- Traditionally they were made of wood and cardboard and in the actuality they are usually made with the wooden frame, but the rest with polystyrene.
- Each year more than 1,000 faults that measure between 3 and 30 meters are burned.
- The Fallas were declared in 2016 Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
- In the floral offering to Mare de Déu dels Desemparats (Virgen de los Desamparados) patron saint of Valencia, more than 100,000 falleros and falleras participate.
- Each year, a puppet that becomes part of a museum is pardoned by popular vote. He is known as the "ninot indultat".
- Fallas artists are grouped in a specific guild; the "Gremi artesà d 'Artistes fallers".
If you want to know what are the faults of Valencia really, do not stop visit Valencia to know the party at first hand. I'm sure you'll fall in love The mascletá, the floral offerings, the parades, the music, the donuts, the magnificent dresses of the falleras, the extraordinary sculptures of the fallas, the pyrotechnics and finally the cremá, will leave an indelible mark on your memory.
Did you know what are the faults of Valencia ? Did you know what was the origin of the faults ? Did you know that it is celebrated in more than 90 municipalities of the Valencian Community? Have you been to Valencia "for faults"? Share your experience with us! If you want to know another popular party in which the bonfires are also protagonists, we invite you to read the post: Night of San Juan: how to attract magic!