Fallas
Mar 20th 2008 | 2:34 am
#16
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From: Costa Valencia
Re: Fallas
I noticed that pigs, travel, constuction and political dominated. My favourite one was one of the smallest, because they had put so much work into the details that they painted. I think that we saw 40 - 50 in about 7 different towns and only saw one that looked amateurish. In Alzira we went to the TI to get the Fallas map which helped a lot but we only saw 15 out of the 35 that they have.
Rosemary
Rosemary
Mar 20th 2008 | 2:46 am
#17
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From: home (SS) at last!!! :-)
Re: Fallas
no need to apologise, it made me giggle.
you are soooooooooooooooooo lucky to be living somewhere you love!
i wish we could too... soon i hope!
ps- and its not boring, the reason i come here is to hear things about my country (and get even moer homesick!)
Mar 20th 2008 | 3:01 am
#18
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From: Costa Valencia
Re: Fallas
Rosemary
Mar 20th 2008 | 4:33 am
#20
!hola!
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 405
From: Coventry
Re: Fallas
Fallas is the biggest fiesta in the Valencian region. Apparently this fiesta originated when the carpenters were sorting out their wood in the spring and throwing some of it out into the street and built bonfires out of it which were then set alight to honour their patron.
Most towns build the monuments during the year and they are 'planted' out in the streets on 14 -16 of March. They depict political issues, local issues, fantasy, or generally take the mickey out of people in general. All are burnt on 19 March and this is called 'La Noche de Crema'.
There are also processions most days which are extremely colourful because of the beautiful costumes that the women, children and men wear.
If you google Fallas there are a lot of websites with loads of information and photo's. It really is a lovely time here, with the colours, size of monuments and the excitement of the people.
Rosemary
Most towns build the monuments during the year and they are 'planted' out in the streets on 14 -16 of March. They depict political issues, local issues, fantasy, or generally take the mickey out of people in general. All are burnt on 19 March and this is called 'La Noche de Crema'.
There are also processions most days which are extremely colourful because of the beautiful costumes that the women, children and men wear.
If you google Fallas there are a lot of websites with loads of information and photo's. It really is a lovely time here, with the colours, size of monuments and the excitement of the people.
Rosemary
Mar 20th 2008 | 5:36 am
#21
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 81
From: Leeds/Castalla
Re: Fallas
Pictures and experiences like this are NEVER boring, especially for those of us who spend the majority of our time in the U.K. In fact it can really cheer up another grey cold day, so bring it on!!
Mar 20th 2008 | 7:03 am
#22
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From: Vejer de la Fra., Cadiz
Re: Fallas
Gotta agree with that. I am so sad that I watch the 'living in the sun' programmes to warm my hands on the screen and be reminded that there are places where the sky really is blue all day and the round yellow thing shines all day.
Mar 20th 2008 | 7:16 am
#23
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From: Leigh, Lancs. Ex Valencia!
Re: Fallas
Where's that then? Certainly not here at the moment!!
Tim
Mar 20th 2008 | 7:20 am
#24
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From: Vejer de la Fra., Cadiz
Re: Fallas
Bad there is it? I was in Cadiz for 5-6 weeks, Feb was a bit English, being mostly cloudy, but when March came, it was like a switch had been thrown to give solid sunshine. Back here, grey, wet and cold, with the sky like a blanket of damp, dirty cotton wool.
I want to go hoooomeee!
I want to go hoooomeee!
Mar 20th 2008 | 8:54 am
#25
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From: home (SS) at last!!! :-)
Re: Fallas
In san sebastian day we get the tamborrada on the 20th of jan, where everyone goes out and plays the drums dressed in uniforms and stuff, errr i am not explaining it v well, it goes like this:
http://www.donquijote.org/culture/sp...tamborrada.asp
we also have santo tomas, in december (21st i think) where we eat chistorra (dunno how to translate?) and schools etc set up stalls where they sell chistorra tapas to raise money for end of school trips etc. They also put a pig in a cage and they name him and everyone goes to stare at him
and i think after that he err gets his chips.and also semana grande, which really is just to party non stop for a week along the week of el dia de la virgen (15th aug). and there are concerts, shows and all sorts.
and we also host the jazz and cinema festivals!!
sorry i didnt explain all this v well!!
Mar 20th 2008 | 8:19 pm
#26
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Re: Fallas
Many thanks. Fun photos and interesting thread, Rosemary and all contributors.
Mar 20th 2008 | 8:34 pm
#27
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 15,149
From: Costa Valencia
Re: Fallas
In san sebastian day we get the tamborrada on the 20th of jan, where everyone goes out and plays the drums dressed in uniforms and stuff, errr i am not explaining it v well, it goes like this:
http://www.donquijote.org/culture/sp...tamborrada.asp
we also have santo tomas, in december (21st i think) where we eat chistorra (dunno how to translate?) and schools etc set up stalls where they sell chistorra tapas to raise money for end of school trips etc. They also put a pig in a cage and they name him and everyone goes to stare at him and i think after that he err gets his chips.
and also semana grande, which really is just to party non stop for a week along the week of el dia de la virgen (15th aug). and there are concerts, shows and all sorts.
and we also host the jazz and cinema festivals!!
sorry i didnt explain all this v well!!
http://www.donquijote.org/culture/sp...tamborrada.asp
we also have santo tomas, in december (21st i think) where we eat chistorra (dunno how to translate?) and schools etc set up stalls where they sell chistorra tapas to raise money for end of school trips etc. They also put a pig in a cage and they name him and everyone goes to stare at him
and i think after that he err gets his chips.and also semana grande, which really is just to party non stop for a week along the week of el dia de la virgen (15th aug). and there are concerts, shows and all sorts.
and we also host the jazz and cinema festivals!!
sorry i didnt explain all this v well!!
Thanks for explanation and website. I guess it is extremely noisy with all of the drumming but I bet the atmoshere is absolutely wonderful. We were planning to visit there later this year or early next year so will try to organise it to coincide with one of the events.
Rosemary
