It’s a bright, flashy day for Valencia, Spain whenever fallas celebration comes around. A much-awaited event in Valencia, Spain and a number of nearby towns, this is held annually as a way to praise Saint Joseph through a traditional celebration of the fallas, which also pertains to the monuments created during the festival.
Every year, merrymakers start fallas with what is known as La Desperta, literally “the wake-up call,” at 5:00AM through brass bands weaving through the streets. A few last-minute preparations for the celebrations follow, in a small pocket of time which can also be called the lull before the storm of activities descend upon the town. Then at 2:00PM, La Mascleta, or the showcase of coordinated fireworks begins. Aside from the firecrackers, devotees also offer flowers to the Virgin which is known as L’Ofrena floral.
This goes on throughout the days of fallas, except Els Castells and La Nit del Foco. On La Flanta, construction of all the falls infantils should be finished. When night falls, all of the falls majors must be complete, or they may be disqualified from joining the next activities. On the midnight during the last night, all the qualified falls are burnt. They create huge bonfires that serve as the climax of the event, known to be La Crema (“the burning”).
The festivities is made even more fun by the sense of community that it fosters especially when neighborhoods organize the Casal Faller, which includes activities like fundraising and dinners, usually with paella, all year-round.