The Fallas Festival of Valencia
A Flaming Fiesta of Art, Colour, Noise and Fire
My first introduction to Spain in the late 90s was getting off the train at Barcelona and immediately having my wallet lifted from my coat pocket. The city was dusty and the hostel where I was staying, dirty and shady. Needless to say, I wasn’t impressed and my sour mood reflected badly on the city. I decided to move on. My second impression of Spain was Valencia in the throes of its Fallas Festival. And wow, it was just what I needed! The whole town seemed to be throwing one long crazy party. There was noise, smoke, giant weird-looking caricatured sculptures, and lots of street food. This was ‘Spanish fiesta’ at its most superlative.
Imagine someone suggested: Let’s have a festival that lasts for longer than a month, firecrackers that can possibly maim unborn babies, induce heart attacks and leave people deaf for several weeks. We’ll create large paper mâché and wood sculptures that are true works of art but then we’ll burn them. And we’ll burn them in the streets near houses and crowding throngs. And we’ll make sure the noise continues all day with kids throwing bangers in the street so people can also have a heart…
