On the first mobility of the project NOMI to Spain in Aldaia we got the opportunity to be present in part of the traditional festival of Valencia: Fallas. This celebration has a lot of meaning to Valencian people and it goes from the 1st to the 19th of March, the day that marks the beginning of the Spring.
It begun as an old carpenter’s tradition who, when celebrating the arrival of this season, used to burn pieces of wood. With time this evolved to the magnificent monuments and works of art that we see today. During this time in Valencia when you are on the streets you can feel the smell of gunpowder and it’s even more intense during the Mascletá, a spectacle of fireworks that takes place in the Plaza de Ayuntamiento every day at 2pm, from the 1st to the 19th of March.
I watched the Mascletá 3 or 4 times from different angles and, in my opinion, the most exciting is when you are close to it. The only thing that you have to remember is to keep your mouth open and don’t cover your ears to avoid damaging them. I think if I had to describe Mascletá and Fallas in general in one word it would be adrenaline. When you are waiting for it to start it looks like an eternity and you get shivers when the Falleras declare “Senyor pirótecnic pot començar la mascletà”. The firework lasts between 5 to 8 minutes more or less, and if you’re close to it you just feel like screaming all the time. You can’t hear anything in the last minute, you fell everything vibrating inside you and it looks like the floor is shaking. It’s a mix of a lot of emotions, but mostly excitement. I’m so happy that we got to be present during a few of the traditions of this festival in Valencia and I absolutely loved to try the gastronomy. Paella was really delicious and I had never tried it before.
Living the Fallas was a great experience and I loved it because this is what makes them unique.
Now I can't wait to share a bit of my culture with everyone too. See you all in Madeira! ;)
Catarina Pinto