Valencia's Festivals, Culture and Traditions |
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Light, gunpowder, music and flowers are elements constantly found in Valencian celebrations. A must because of its beauty and uniqueness is Fallas (15-19 of March), Festivities which have been named as of International interest for tourism. During the "Fallera" week, the city becomes an ironic museum open 24 hours a day, and made up of an artistic collection of more than 350 monuments made from paper maché, set up in the middle of the city's streets.
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Art and humour are mixed to form humorous "ninots" which aim to provoke giggles among the Valencian people, due to their daring criticism of society and current politics. Fallas is an extrovert festival, which is celebrated mainly in the streets to the sound of brass bands and to the aroma of "Bunyols"( Typical cake made from dough or pumpkin and sugar) with hot chocolate, and the passing of young Valencians in the city's parades, clad in the regional typical costumes. Gunpowder and fire in the "Mascleta" and the firework displays, contagious. Turmoil, devotion towards the Virgin of the "Desamparados" and to St. Joseph...but overall traditions which are alive and have been lived and re-lived are re-born year after year with the coming of the " Josefina" festivities. |
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On the 19th of March numerous "purifying" fires bring an end to the beauty of the Fallas, although the sadness which this causes is short lived, due to the knowledge that the circle of nature has closed one circle in order to open another with the arrival of Spring which re-news the spirit of all of us who love these unique festivities, and we draw inspiration for the next year's Fallas. |
Easter Week is an important date in the Maritime district of the city, where the inhabitants join in colourful processions which represent biblical characters, dramatising the passion of Christ.
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"El Corpus" festivity, which closes the cycle, and depends upon the variable timetable of Lent and Easter, brings us the "ROCAS" processions of great floats which represent mysteries of the bible, Giants and Large headed characters, dance groups, "Cirialots" (Senior carriers of large candles).
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The Valencians enjoy intensely the urban summer in the "July Fair", which brings us a month filled with concerts, bullfights, shows and an array of attractions celebrated outdoors, and all leading up to an authentic and traditional "Battle of Flowers". |
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The numerous Music Bands which exist in the Valencian community shows us the depth of tradition and love of music amongst the Valencians, which reaches its high point with the annual celebration of the international Bands convention in July, which has embraced the city year after year for the last 100 years.
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If a worker should break the rules, he will be judged by a "Watering Jury" (Tribunal de las Aguas), popularly known as the Water Tribunal. This institution is over 100 years old, and in its uninterrupted existence it has always been made up of 8 democratically elected workers, elected every 2 years.
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Dressed in the typical, old fashioned countryman's "blusón".( large black shirt-like garment), the members of the jury have the responsibility of achieving justice through an oral process which must be in the Valencian language. Visitors may enjoy this live example of order and cohabitation every Thursday at midday in the Apostle's door at the Cathedral of Valencia.
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