Category: Events and Holidays

La Cremà: The Fiery Finale of Fallas

The Origins of La Cremà

The tradition of burning Fallas monuments dates back centuries. The first documented Cremà occurred in 1751, but bonfires celebrating Saint Joseph’s Day on March 19 have been part of Valencian culture since at least the 13th and 14th centuries. These fires historically symbolized the end of winter and the arrival of spring, marking the vernal equinox (El Nacional).

By the 18th century, city ordinances began regulating fire-related traditions, restricting bonfires to designated plazas and squares. Over time, these regulations helped shape the organized, large-scale celebration of fire that Fallas is known for today.

The Parade of Fire: A Fiery Prelude

One of the most striking additions to Fallas was the Cabalgata del Fuego (Parade of Fire), introduced in 1932. Initially intended to kick off the festival, it was later moved to the final day, serving as the lead-up to La Cremà. This visually stunning event features fire-breathing demons, flaming beasts, and traditional falleros and falleras marching from the city center to Puerta de la Mar. The parade sets the stage for the night’s fiery spectacle.

How La Cremà Unfolds

Setting the Fallas monuments alight is no simple task. With more than 300 fire crews on standby, strict safety protocols ensure that each burning is carefully controlled. Every neighborhood Falla commission is responsible for the safe burning of its monument, ensuring that spectators remain at a safe distance. Before ignition, the structures are typically doused with accelerants to help them burn efficiently. The honor of lighting the fire falls to the Fallera Mayor, who does so from a safe distance — accompanied, of course, by plenty of fireworks (Distrito Fallas).

The timeline of La Cremà follows a structured schedule:

  • 8:00 PM – The children’s monuments (fallas infantiles) are burned first.
  • 10:00–10:30 PM – The larger Fallas monuments begin to be set alight.
  • 11:00 PM – The grand finale: the Plaza del Ayuntamiento Fallas monument is burned under a sky filled with fireworks. A Punt and other local media broadcast the event live, providing minute-by-minute coverage.

For many, this is an overwhelming moment. The sight of the flames consuming months of craftsmanship can be deeply emotional, and it is common to see falleras sobbing as the fire reduces their monuments to ashes.

The Aftermath: A City Reborn

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of La Cremà is the aftermath. Within hours, Valencia’s cleanup crews get to work. By dawn, ashes and cinders have been swept away, and the city is restored to normal, marking the official end of Fallas.

If you plan to attend La Cremà, be prepared for large crowds, particularly at Plaza del Ayuntamiento, where the biggest bonfire takes place. The Parade of Fire begins around 7:00 PM, starting at Calle Poeta Querol and making its way along Calle de la Paz to Puerta de la Mar. Whether you watch from the heart of the city or from a neighborhood falla, witnessing La Cremà is an unforgettable experience — one that embodies the enduring spirit of Valencia.

La Ofrenda: A Floral Tribute at the Heart of Fallas

Amid the fireworks, festivities, and towering monuments of Fallas, a deeply religious ceremony takes center stage. La Ofrenda, or “The Offering,” is an act of devotion and faith—one of the most moving traditions of the festival.

For two days, thousands of falleras and falleros dressed in traditional attire make their way in a grand procession to Plaza de la Virgen. Each participant carries a floral bouquet, which will be carefully arranged to form an enormous effigy of Our Lady of the Forsaken, Valencia’s revered patron saint. This year, more than 100 thousand people are expected to take part in the offering.

A Tradition Born from Solace

The Virgin Mary, also known as Mare de Déu dels Desemparats (Our Lady of the Forsaken), has been venerated in Valencia since at least the 15th century. Her 17th-century basilica stands in Plaza de la Virgen, adjacent to the cathedral. However, the Fallas ceremony of La Ofrenda is a more recent tradition, emerging in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. (Source: Christian Iconography)

In 1941, two years after Valencia fell to Francisco Franco’s forces following months of bombardment, a group of women brought flowers to the Basilica as a gesture of solace and devotion. Year after year, more people joined this spontaneous act, leading to an overwhelming display of floral offerings. By the 1960s, Fallas commissions began organizing the processions, and in 1987, the Central Fallero Board introduced a 15-meter frame supporting a bust of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus to display the bouquets in the form of an intricate floral mantle. (Source: 7TeleValencia).

A Slow Unveiling of Beauty

Each Fallas commission carefully selects the color of its bouquets, yet none of the participants know the final design of the Virgin’s cloak. The arrangement remains a secret, gradually revealing itself over two days as the flowers are placed with painstaking precision. This sense of slow revelation — crafted through the collective effort of the entire community — adds to the magic of the moment. (Source: Levante-EMV)

Accompanied by marching bands, the processions wind their way through Valencia’s streets, converging in Plaza de la Virgen in a breathtaking display of faith, tradition, and artistry. The final night of La Ofrenda culminates in Nit del Foc (Night of Fire), a spectacular fireworks show that lights up the sky above the City of Arts and Sciences. The night is filled with street parties, music, and dancing—the last joyous celebration before the grand finale of Fallas: La Cremà (the burning of the fallas monuments).

What to Expect

La Ofrenda will transform the city, with major avenues closed (particulary, Calle de la Paz and Calle San Vicente Martir) to accommodate the processions. Navigating Valencia, especially in the old town, will be challenging as thousands make their way to Plaza de la Virgen. Police will be stationed to manage crowds, and designated pedestrian crossing points will be in place. If you plan to attend, patience is key — embrace the moment, take in the colors and sounds, and witness one of Valencia’s most cherished traditions.