Paco (seamermar) wanted me to start a thread about this festival that is in his city.  He still can't start threads (for some reason the start thread link doesn't appear when the page is translated into Spanish..)

Anyway, here is the festival:

Fallas de Valencia

http://www.donquijote.org/culture/spain/fiestas/lasfallas.asp



Apparently they let off alot of fireworks.

http://pop.youtube.com/watch?v=4cjBwNVufo0

I'm sure he will tell you much more about it when he logs back on.  :)

That picture in the first link - in the right hand corner - looks a bit like our Opera House  :o

Thanks bookmistress4ever.

For some reason I don't understand I can't see the start thread bottom on my screen.

Never mind, seeing I got a lot of friends for to do it for me.

Yes Saint Patrick gave his turn to Saint Joseph patron of carpenters and of my city,  Valencia, as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS1S-m9a7uo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FypDyGNyDyQ

" Falla" is the name given to each one of the gigantic, sculpted structures of cardboard, wood and sometimes cork, which humorously portray the most relevant current events and personalities.
  The "ninots" or figures are set up on them, representing different scenes. These are explained to visitors by posters in verse located below the "ninots".
    A Fallas monument is, as a whole, a mammoth-sized parody.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdAjHBft_QM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqKHsqS9FLc&NR=1
Where even Michael Jackson got burned some years ago.

Every monument has a subject-matter, or general theme. On that basis, the artist plays with intentions and ideas, using the subject as a pretext to portray and describe what he or she wants to say.
Even though they are colossal monuments (they can exceed 20 metres in some cases), the most spectacular thing about the Fallas is the way they combine sculpture, carpentry, engineering, painting and, in particular, creativity and humour.
A Falla does not only consider style, composition and modelling. A fundamental role is also played by ingenuity and humour. These are the "Fallero" terms to define the wit and irony of the artists or writers who devise a monument, when describing the most significant current events or ferociously criticizing what they consider most deserves it.
There are also  children's Fallas which follow the same structure as the adults' ones, although logically in smaller format (the maximum allowed is 3 x 3 metres). This makes them, in some cases, sculptural works of art in miniature, tremendously colourful and appealing.

Perhaps I got parodies rolling through my veins since I was a child from seeing Fallas, who knows.

We got also the thunder within the heart. I don't agree kids exploding little bombs at streets, but it's an old tradition in our land, and you can't fight fate anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg6kytl6D9s&feature=related

The mascletà itself is like a concert of gunpowder: pyrotechnicians carefully study the rhythm of firework sequences, launches and whistles, combining them in a spectacular crescendo that concludes with the "terremoto" (earthquake): hundreds of “masclets” exploding on the ground simultaneously. All of this happens in barely six or seven minutes.

Our Lady of the Forsaken.

http://www.fallasfromvalencia.com/en/videos/ofrenda.html

This is what is known as the "Ofrenda de Flores a la Virgen de los Desamparados", a floral offering to the Kingdom of Valencia's patron saint, Our Lady of the Forsaken. All the Fallas Committees take part in this event, decked out in their finest, to present their bouquets of flowers to the enormous image of the Virgin which stands in the centre of the plaza named after her, overlooked by her Basilica.
A parade of thousands upon thousands of “Falleras” and “Falleros” fills the city streets, wearing regional costumes and adding to the visual charm with the colours of the flowers. Each Committee brings its own music band and, in some cases, a spectacular basket with the most original and creative floral decorations.

Valencia is a land of pyrotechnics. There is barely an event held in this region, whether public or private, a popular celebration or a simple family meeting, that isn't accompanied by the noise and smell of gunpowder.
  The Fallas, as the prime example of a popular Valencian fiesta, has a highly varied programme of fireworks displays

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2QFAspsSmk&feature=PlayList&p=6ECBA6149EA97CE0&index=2
You can say we are crazy about fire.

The most spectacular and best-known of all these is the "Nit del Foc" (literally "Night of Fire"), the best example of the intensity that can be reached combining light, colour and explosions. This tremendous pyrotechnical festival takes place on the night between the 18th and the 19th March and acts as a preamble to the main day of the Fallas.

Maybe I fed up this post with so much "party-stuff", but I only wanted to show all of you how is the corner from I look at the rest of the world.

See you penguins.  Maybe some day we'll meet in Valencia. ;)

Thanks for sharing your experience in this festival, Paco.

It's always interesting to learn of traditions in other countries then my own.  Until you had mentioned it in your message to me, I had not even heard about it at all.

How do they decide the theme for the displays?  Do people in your city get a vote?  How do they decide who gets to build the displays?
Are they all let off at the same time?

I'll bet dogs bark their heads off (figuratively) with all the noise of the fireworks.

Are there contests for all the different displays?

This festival looks like fun Paco. You gotta love the smell of gunpowder in the morning! ;)

Patty ....that was a nice gesture to assist Paco in presenting this to us.  :)

http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/seamermar/fallas%20de%20valencia%202009/Fallas2009HardyMarxandDonald.jpg


How do they decide the theme for the displays?


they make a bet to what they think will hit the best

Do people in your city get a vote? 

Actually people aroound the city have nothing to do with, only being a bystander.

How do they decide who gets to build the displays?

An interesting question Patty. There are no much artists to hire, so they try and appeal the best ones by a wide wallet, so they are always supposed to win. There really are a few "clubs" with chances to hit the prize.

Are they all let off at the same time? Yes, they have to be stuck on the very same night, and get burned on the night of 19th March, the one of the councilhouse ( out of contest) gets burnt in the last time

I have to go now, there's still some fun to play.

I'll be back with some more to upload  ;)

That picture in the first link - in the right hand corner - looks a bit like our Opera House  :o


So what is that place in the first link - in the right hand corner - looks a bit like our Opera House ? :D

So what is that place in the first link - in the right hand corner - looks a bit like our Opera House ? :D


I think it's part of the university. 

Google maps shows something called L'Oceanografic

So what is that place in the first link - in the right hand corner - looks a bit like our Opera House ? :D


the City of Arts and Sciences it's the newest building sprout  in town, mooster, where are held several venues.

http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/seamermar/hemispheric.jpg

http://www.cac.es/home

Yes, I also found it some resemblance to a building somewhere else  ::). Maybe in Sidney as you said  ;).
Santiago Calatrava, a son of the town, is the architect.

Well, Fallas are now a memory in my mind,
but how we burnt inside !!

http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/seamermar/fallas%20de%20valencia%202009/Fallas2009Fallainthesmoke.jpg

Along with people from all over the world.

We make mockery from Vikings
even up to our National bullfighting  :P :P

http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/seamermar/fallas%20de%20valencia%202009/Fallas2009inthecastle.jpg

Among old historic walls  painting cartboards grow up for to grin of all.  8)

Good pictures, Francisco....some that I hadn't seen.  I'm glad that I encouraged you to share them with us.

I like the sight of new mail in the morning!  ;D 

You're welcome Adagio  ;)

After all, I'm here to give and take, that's what befell me those days  :P

you can see everything as walking along streets.

http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/seamermar/fallas%20de%20valencia%202009/Fallas2009GrouchoMarx.jpg

I guess Howard would be pleased
to share such a box seat  :D

http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/seamermar/fallas%20de%20valencia%202009/Fallas2009zebra.jpg


http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/seamermar/fallas%20de%20valencia%202009/Fallas2009Golum.jpg

http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/seamermar/fallas%20de%20valencia%202009/Fallas2009047.jpg

They've built Hollywood in wood and dreams 8)

Taller than the buildings  ;)

http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr334/seamermar/fallas%20de%20valencia%202009/Fallas2009028.jpg