19/03/2024
The grand finale is in full swing. Officially held between March 1-19 every year, this massive undertaking already gets started during early February. “Fallas" in Valencia is an all-consuming affair. Local Valencians and expat residents alike either engage fully, attempt to join in, run for the hills or promise themselves never again!
The final crescendo has been building across this last weekend. Some 800 statues have been placed in the streets while celebrations and fireworks of varying styles have been happening at various times every day.
Since the early hours of this morning the final festivities continue until the “Crema” or burning of thee works of art. Some are massive constructions, others are smaller. In the tiniest of streets and squares, whole apartment block frontages are hung with huge fire-proof materials. The fire department is in attendance everywhere across the city until the last flames have died.
The final act is when the largest, most important effigy placed on city hall square has been raised to the ground way after midnight. Beyond the fires, black smoke from the wood and polystyrene structures as well as dreadful fumes are a major annual source of debate.
Since the festival has been recognised by UNESCO, the event is the largest tourist attraction, powerful people from many walks of life are involved and younger generations follow in their parents footsteps, that seems to be wishful thinking.
Wherever one sits, in the midst of these traditional festivities or on the fence, it is quite a sight to behold. The cleanup is rapid. Streets are cleaned, lights removed and food trucks are towed away. The scars remaining on residential streets are the only clues that something has happened. Until next year!
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