Friday, March 04, 2016

What is a 'ninot' or a 'mascletà' during Las Fallas in Valencia?

It's almost time for us to celebrate Las Fallas in València. If you are looking for more information about this festivity, you will find different "key words" that make up the "popular slang" and that are important in order to understand what Las Fallas really are. Some of the key words you will see are:




  • Ninot o falla: A "ninot" is an enormous paper maché doll that fill the streets of Valencia during Las Fallas and are specially decorated for the festival. The Valencians who work on the ninots spend the entire year getting them ready. The ninots traditionally represent the current sitaution or a character in a burlesque and critical way. There are two types ninots and fallas: childrens' ninots (they are smaller) and the full-sized festival fallas. 
  • La Cremà: The lifespan of the "ninots" is short. It takes a year to build them, and then at the end of the Las Fallas festival, on the last night in fact, they are burned in a tradition called 'La Cremà'. This year la Cremà will take place on March 19. The childrens' fallas will be burned at 10:00 at night and around midnight the big ones go up.
  • Mascletà: Every day from March1 through March 19, at 2:00pm in the town square one of the most impressive acts of Las Fallas takes place: la 'mascletà'. The people gather to listen to more than 100 kg of gunpowder explode in seconds. There are also nighttime and beach 'mascletàs'.
  • La Crida: This kick-off public event is the invitation to everyone to participate in Las Fallas. This year it took place at the emblematic Serranos Towers on February 28.
  • Nit del Foc: From the night of March 15 through the 18, every night there is a massive fireworks display (literally a Castle of Fire) over the Alameda (main street). The most spectacular castle is the one that is sent off on the night of March 18, the appropriately named 'Nit del Foc' (Night of Fire). 

All that's left to do now is the enjoy the party!

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