Fallas explained to my friends in Europe, and around the world (Part 4)

 16th March, 8.am. 

The sound of la "despertà" with firecrackers exploding and music bands playing forces Valencia to wake up.

The agenda in each casal (this is the name that in Valencià, the local language, the place where falleros/as meet is called) is at its 100%:

Kids will eat chocolate, adults will have some beer (or water, as it's quite hot today), women that will dress soon with traditional costume are having their hair prepared (such a ritual!) to be ready...You can have an idea of how their hairs will look like with below picture:

And the "Passacarrer" will also happen! How could I forget about this? It's an event where the falleras (and falleros walk around the neighborhood to say "hello neighbors, March is here and we are here to celebrate it! Come and join us in this celebration".

While many people are enjoying the fallas, others work to have things ready. In this case the pyrotechnician prepares for the event where all the kids will set fire to firecrackers all at the same time. This was how initially the mascletà was done, and after it evolved to what it is today.

Time for lunch now, around 15h. Don't try to understand why so late, just embrace it ;-)

One can hear mascletàes from different fallas. I still, and always will, believe that this is a unique place and time in the world. This can't be explained neither with words, pictures nor videos. I can try to share a flavour or telling you how this is, but a person will never experience it the same way as if he/she is here, in Valencia, where and when it happens.

I still follow up my daily steps and at this point I did around 7500, but the day is not over yet.

Next chapter will happen this afternoon, when "la comissió infantil" (this is all the kids in a falla) go walking to the heart of the city to pick up the prizes they won (linked to the figures in the falla, to the sports competition that happened during the year, theater plays contest...). Let's say that in the official events the falleras and falleros dress very smart with traditional (and beautiful, and un many occassions expensive) costume. Silk, gold and silver will be part of this.

To be continued...