Every March people travel from all around the world to Valencia to welcome spring with firecrackers, concerts that go all night, and of course, nearly burning down the entire city. When I first heard about a festival in the middle of Valencia that revolved around burning 100-foot beautiful statues to the ground I knew I had to see this spectacle with my own eyes. So this past weekend, I trekked to Valencia to witness this yearly celebration of tradition, satire, and nationalism known as Las Fallas.
We arrived by train to Valencia late Thursday night, and a robust display of fireworks immediately greeted us signaling the start of the festival. The fireworks display takes place all across the city at different times throughout the night. It is impossible to sleep in Valencia this entire weekend due to the sound of crackling firecrackers and the booms of fireworks that permeate the night air. The feeling in the city is so infectious you wouldn’t want to fall asleep even if you could.
We awoke on Saturday to a parade of musicians dressed in historical attire that is traditional to the festival marching past out window. The procession seemingly went on endlessly as falls attendees filed in line behind the parade to show their support. The streets swarmed with people to the point that it was impossible to see the road in front of you. Vendors in the streets were selling everything from paella to firecrackers. We bravely embarked into the crowded alleyways of Valencia in search of the famous fallas statues.
The fallas statues loomed high above the streets. They represented political figures, pop culture references, and religious symbols. A group of artists and craftsmen spend months painstakingly constructing these beautiful and intricate statues only to have them burned to ash on the final day of the festival known as La Cremà. Each fallas has fireworks stored inside them that help speed along the burning process. These statues were remarkably beautiful and were the main attraction of the festival.
Las Fallas was an incredible cultural experience that I believe all study abroad student should have the opportunity to see. The festival is a fantastic representation of Spanish culture. I am looking forward to returning to Valencia to see the burning of the fallas again.
Tripping with Maddie 