Arriving to the beach, it was best to admire the Mediterranean sea…
A little background to what exactly I’ve arrived for is because it is a traditional celebration in commemoration of Saint Joseph. In late 2016 it was added to the cultural humanity list of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Below you’re about to witness is the celebration and the several monuments to be burned due to the term Falles refers both to them.
Now on-forth into our adventure, we needed to grab some food real quick. While in Valencia, it’s best to have Spanish cuisine, and we decided on the beach restaurants nearby.
At the first location we ordered Patatas Bravas con Allioli and doble cañas (potato with mild sauce and garlicky mayonnaise-like sauce).
The next place was next to the shoreline and we placed an order for for Valencia Paella con pollo, but decided to exclude rabbit.
After replenishing our energy and leaving our automobile at the designated parking lot, we headed into central Valencia.
Many streets were setup with the monuments as we encountered them. I wanted to also purchase some fireworks because a lot of people were out here having the time of their life.
The night goes on and the La Cremà (the Burning) was to commence. Furthermore I luckily photographed as many art monuments displaying the humorous character of Valencians. It is said these started in the Middle Ages as wood art and during the Spanish Civil War they were almost banned! The timing of the festival is between March 15-19 due to celebrate the spring equinox and burning of wood is for the end of winter, the feast day of Saint Joseph.
About midnight the burning i.e. La Cremà is to begin and is the main event because the torches on use for the falles huge bonfires begin. Above is the closest to the Plaça de l'Ajuntament, the center of Valencia, and tallest monument that I’ve seen, as my friends and I arrived for the last day of Las Fallas we were excited.
At last one of the few small bonfires is to be torched as midnight is approaching..
The preparation is beginning..
One of the Falleras is here for the hug for whom I think is who did the artwork and soon after that the burning began… (I was video chatting here but further below I have videos).
Once about it is decimated to no more than than ashes and rubber, people began to leave in search of the next burning. The decorations throughout the streets of Valencia are very beautiful.
Eventually we ran across one of the larger La Cremás and we got closer for a better view.
Large crowd of people awaited around here and with the street being closed off, no cars were to interrupt.
A BIG firework show was displayed (I’m jokingly foreshadowing here).
Then the fire commenced right after I captured the video and my friends and I enjoyed the bonfire and a few pictures below of the La Cremá.
According to the geolocation given by my cell phone of the photographs above and below, my friends and I were in the area of Valencia known as Eixample. The street they closed off was Aveneda del Regne de València and two blocks away we came across one of the smaller Fallas just about commence.
One of the Falleras came along right away and we were lucky to be in the frontline. She was given the torch and La Cremá began.
One of the staff helped with Las Fallas and gave a little boost to the burning.
At this point it was half past 12 A.M. and my friends and I were walking as the flock of people led us yet to another burning. The location we arrived is La Plaça del Baró de Cortés and I captured footage.
At this point it was nearing 1 A.M. and fireworks being shot into the sky and with no doubt its origin was from La plaça de l'Ajuntament. The plaza was about 1km away and we toiled towards the source of the screeching poppers blazing the night.
It went on for minutes and smoke with lights glazed everyone’s eyes.
Being at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento meant this is the gran finale of Las Fallas 2018 as well as the final La Cremá afterwards…
(below is footage of BIG fireworks; best video settings to be full HD and take caution of your sound volume).
The firework show above was very loud and spectacular. At last the final bonfire was further towards the crowd but from the distance you can witness the flames and ashes circulating in Plaça de l'Ajuntament.
I hope to return to the celebration and stay for more than just the last day of this festival. Much more is presented in the city of Valencia e.g. more Mascletà, daily fireworks in the evening or the La despertà, the wind instruments in the morning. Thank you for reading and for your time, have a blessed day.
-Luis F. Palafox
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Biomedical Engineering major Luis Palafox is spending the 2017-2018 academic year in Spain with our U of A Exchange Program at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid with the help of the Gilman Scholarship and our Office of Study Abroad Scholarship.
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