Discover Top Posts Tagged with #el caloret

La semana de Las Fallas

So the biggest festival of the year here Las Fallas is this week, there have been events going on throughout the past month but this week is the big party. Every night there are discomoviles (outdoor DJ stands) in the streets where its mostly young people out dancing all night long. There are fireworks displays at night also, but people light off fireworks and firecrackers all day long too. The fireworks during the day are mostly kids messing around, but I believe I mentioned earlier these are meant to make noise. The Spanish are very loud always, not only when they are speaking I guess. After school it’s a mad scramble to run from any suspect kids who look like they have fireworks, because they will light them off then throw the fireworks at you. You have to always keep your eyes open because kids ages 2-16 probably have fireworks with them.

I have yet to actually figure out what a Falla is, the festival started out very traditional many many years ago but it has now morphed into a month long celebration. From what I do know, there are groups of people in the community who get together for dinners throughout the year, these groups are called Fallas. They are not religious groups, only people who want to join. The Fallas are competing against each other to create these absolutely amazing, detailed, almost cartoon-looking displays; the designs are based on whatever the Falla wishes, usually something comical. Each Falla elects a girl to be the Fallera, she dresses in a traditional dress and hair and they all parade through the streets. The center of Valencia looks like Disneyland right now, filled with tourists, and venders selling balloons, food, trinkets. There are lots of street performers as well. There are other events too, like the Fallas have huge Paella street parties where they have fires on the streets to cook with these huge Paella pans to feed the group. I’ll figure out more and hopefully be able to explain more when I return!

I see so much everyday but I’m too busy absorbing everything that I forget to take pictures, I will get some pictures from my friends who I go out with and post those as well. I hope everything is good at home, starting to get a little homesick now. (Also currently taking gift requests so please let me know haha) I love you all xoxo

Hasta Luego!

#las fallas #valencia #el caloret