Tag: fallas

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.

Ninots: The Satirical Stars of Valencia’s Fallas

Fallas is Valencia’s most important festival—a spectacular 19-day celebration in March filled with fireworks, pageantry, and an unmatched display of artistry and satire. This springtime tradition blends delirious festivities, solemn religious observance, and cheeky political commentary, all set against a backdrop of fire and gunpowder.

The Origins of Fallas

Historians continue to debate the exact origins of Fallas. Some speculate it began as a pagan ritual marking the spring equinox, though there is little concrete evidence from the Roman era or earlier. The word fallas is believed to derive from the Latin facula, meaning “torch,” referring to the flaming beacons placed atop watchtowers (La Vanguardia).

The earliest recorded descriptions of Fallas bonfires date back to the 17th century, though the tradition likely existed long before. Historically, these bonfires were linked to the feast of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, on March 19. Carpenters would burn old wood scraps, inviting others to discard unused winter items in the flames. The enthusiasm for these bonfires was so strong—and hazardous—that Valencian authorities eventually restricted them to public plazas (Valencia Extra).

The Birth of the Ninots

It wasn’t until the early 19th century that we find records of Fallas ninots—human effigies made of wood and straw, crafted to be burned in the flames. José Calasanz Biñe, a visitor to Valencia at the time, observed that these caricatures were displayed in public squares, allowing society to mock them before their fiery demise. “Even the servants must have their time to see them,” he remarked (National Geographic Historia).

Satire soon became a defining element of Fallas. By the late 19th century, some ninots took on risqué themes, leading to a short-lived attempt by the Catholic Church to censor them. The effort failed, only reinforcing the public’s determination to mock those in power (La Vanguardia).

In 1901, Valencia introduced a prize for the best Fallas monument, giving rise to the artistic fallas seen today—prized not only for their satire but also for their craftsmanship and grandeur.

The Modern Fallas Festival

The festival took its current shape in the 1930s. What was once a two- or three-day event expanded into Fallas Week in 1932, eventually evolving into a city-wide spectacle lasting the first 19 days of March. During this period, key traditions emerged, including the election of the Fallera Mayor and the public vote for the Ninot Indultat—the one ninot spared from the flames. The ritual of La Ofrenda, where Fallas groups present flowers to the Virgin of the Forsaken, also became a formalized tradition (National Geographic Historia).

The Reign of the Ninots

Today, ninots are the stars of Fallas. Crafted months, sometimes years, in advance, they can cost millions to produce. Each neighborhood Fallas association votes on the theme and size of their ninot. Some are small, community-driven projects, while others are elaborate, large-scale constructions funded by wealthy patrons.

Prizes are awarded for artistry and technique, but the ultimate honor is the public vote to save two ninots—one large and one small—from destruction. In the weeks leading up to La Cremà (the final burning on March 19), residents visit the Ninot Exhibition to cast their votes. The selected ninots are then put on public display before finding a permanent home in the Fallas Museum.

For several days, Valencia’s streets become an open-air gallery of towering sculptures, intricate satire, and breathtaking craftsmanship—all destined to turn to ash. Every year, certain Fallas monuments stand out as must-see attractions.

Here’s a map of the most anticipated ninots for this year’s Fallas: Visit Valencia Fallas Route.

Be warned: Fallas doesn’t just take over Valencia—it pulls everyone and everything into the fiery festivities. If you’re lucky enough to be here, know that resistance is futile!