Falles

The Fallas [ faʎas ] (Spanish ) or case [ fajes ] ( Val ), are a Spanish Spring Festival, which takes place every year in Valencia and in numerous locations in the Comunidad Valenciana from 15th to 19th of March. The main attraction are partially home- high sculpture made ​​of paper mache and other combustible materials that are lit on the last day of the feast solemnly. Also called Fallas and have given the Festival 's name.

History

The result are the Fallas in the 18th century, the origins are unclear. A common hypothesis is that the carpenters have burned their wooden frames for the lamps and candles at the end of the cold season, because they no longer needed this in the spring. The date for this combustion ( Valencian: cremà ) was placed on the day of St. Joseph (San Jose / Sant Josep ) over time on March 19 then. So Joseph, the foster father of Jesus of Nazareth, as well as his son was a carpenter, he is in Spain as the patron saint of carpenters.

Sometime even bits of wood and old furniture were burned in the streets on this day that had been collected previously. By the time you hung also held a straw dolls in front of the windows and on the streets or leaned it on wooden platforms on the walls of houses and burned them also before many spectators. Then began the artisans of a quarter to build for this day little pieces of art, which consisted of several figures. Until the early 20th century, the Fallas from large boxes consisted of three or four wax dolls, wore the cloth clothes. Then discovered the artist paper mache as an ideal material. Meanwhile, synthetic fiber materials are used in part because of their greater stability and water resistance. However, this practice is sometimes strongly criticized because when burning these materials many toxins are released.

From the dolls were gradually three-dimensional works of art that is made from wood, plaster and cardboard, each pick up and caricaturing a particular topic. Today, the largest sculptures are home- high structure, which often weigh more than ten tons and sometimes cost more than 100,000 euros. Each year there is a competition in which the population the best Fallas and the most popular single figure ( ninot, Doll in Valencian ) selected. This figure is then reproduced in miniature and in the museum.

Artists and craftsmen work often one year to the partially foolish acting monuments, athletes, national and local celebrities sizes often glorify or mock humorous. Although suspiciously in the past centuries by the authorities and temporarily prohibited, the Fallas are now a project funded by the city administration spectacle and have evolved to that heady and colorful festival that puts Valencia every year in a state of emergency. The Fallas are little known, as the festival is mainly intended by the citizens of the city for the citizens of the city and was begun in the 1990s, they compete professionally as an international tourist attraction abroad.

The driving motor of the Fallas are the nearly 150,000 members of the Fallas clubs from the nearly 40 districts of Valencia, each comprising one block or several streets. Each club has its headquarters, known as Casal Faller. Each member shall pay an annual fee and participate throughout the year in the party preparations. Each Fallas association is represented by a president and organized year-round festivals, raffles, contests, etc., to raise money for the festival.

The highlights

The focus is on setting up your own Falla made ​​of wood and papier-mâché, which is supposed to represent the district. These specialized craftsmen and artists under contract. Other duties include preparing the costume parades, the compilation of the band or the structure of the club hall, where the district meets during the festival week. Here, each district would like to receive one of the coveted prizes that are awarded during the Fallas in different categories (Best Falla, best fireworks, etc.). Each club also provides a Fallera, a Valencianerin in traditional costume; among all the girls Fallera Mayor is then selected, then a week officially representing the party.

Ambition and civic pride play a major role in the Fallas. The competition between the character neighborhoods ensures impulses and fuels the Fallas year after year. The visitor or tourist, the celebrations within the district clubs open only partially. But apart from the activities of the district there are during the Fallas also an official program, which is organized by the City Council and is available to everyone.

The official program includes, for example, the Ofrena de Flor, the two-day " sacrifice " in honor of the Verge dels Desamparats ( Holy Virgin of the Forsaken ), which is the patron saint of Valencia, at the same time. At the Ofrena de Flor take more than 100,000 men, women and children participate in colorful costumes. The men come in traditional suit, the ladies slipped artfully skirts of fine silk and brocade teuerem the hair. In the gala costumes often puts a whole month's income; but they are worn again and again. In the Plaza de la Virgen a 14-meter -high wooden statue of the Virgin is set up. It is plugged from the flowers that bring the participants of the Ofrenda the Madonna dress. Nearly 50 tons of roses and carnations, gladioli and tulips, anemones and lilies - flowers that are flown in from all over Spain to Valencia - are needed.

The fireworks are organized by the City and funded by sponsors. For the Fallas Valencianos year after year put nearly a hundred tons of powder in firecrackers and cannon that are fired in the festival week daily: the colorful at night ( Castillo ) denominated called Mascletà day. The nightly fireworks on the banks of the Turia attracting more and hundreds of thousands of spectators. A special feature is the Mascletàs that are fired every day by 14 clock on the town hall square and also attract tens of thousands of visitors. Mounted on long cords blast explode every second and spark a symphony of a dull rumble, drumbeats and whistling, hissing tones. This is not only placed on volume value, rather it is on the pyrotechnician to shape the rhythm and dynamics of Mascletà as engaging as possible. Good pyro are in Valencia, therefore, celebrities and celebrated like pop stars. The Thunder concert goes to the bone and puts the amount for minutes in a trance. In 2006, this volume were measured up to 117 decibels. To prevent accidents, the total amount of powder has now been limited to a maximum of 120 kg flash composition. The transmitter TVVi transmits the 14 clock Mascletàs daily live television. For the younger crowd, there are pop concerts in the evening in the middle of town with well known Spanish artists.

Visitors to the Fallas find besides these major events throughout Fallas in different neighborhoods; in 2005 there were 378 Each district has to play his own program with small fireworks, Mascletàs, competitions etc. On the way through the city one also constantly come across one of more than 350 chapels, pull during the festival week through the streets and paso doble.

Culminate the celebrations on the night of March 20. In honor of St. Joseph, the Fallas are burned at midnight, the largest is lit until an hour later in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento in front of the town hall.