Festivities of interest
Every year, the city celebrates Las Fallas
in honour of its patron saint San José; on 19th March, the streets
fill with people wishing to see the giant papier mâché effigies, soak up
the atmosphere and enjoy the festival with their family and friends. Las
Fallas effigies caricature important
people, scenes from social and political life, fashions and vices, and will be
devoured relentlessly by the fire's flames on the night of “La Cremà”
Semana Santa Marinera takes place in the districts of El Grao, El Cabanyal,
El Canyamelar and La Malvarrosa. The Las Palmas, Santo Entierro
and La Cabalgata de la Resurrección processions form the climax of the
festivities.
Other examples of the most traditional festivals include the staging of
Eucharistic plays on Sant Vicent Ferrer's Day; always celebrated on the Monday
following Easter Monday, this is the finishing touch to Easter.
In the morning of the second Sunday in May, the people of Valencia flood to the
Plaza de la Virgen to take part in the procession of the Mare de Déu
from the Basilica to the Cathedral. In the afternoon, the affectionately-named “La
Geperudeta” again processes to the altar at the Basilica.
The Corpus festivity has been celebrated in Valencia since 1355, involving
hundreds of volunteers who, in the appropriate costumes, revitalise characters
from the Bible. Another Cabalgata, the “Convit”, has been used to
announce the festival and bring out the city's symbolism and mystery using
characters such as “El Capellà de les Roques” or “La Moma”.
The Feria de Julio fills the second fortnight in July with a major event
with bands playing, concluding, after days of shows and fireworks, with the “Batalla
de les Flors”. This is a parade of carriages, driven by young people who
exchange over a million bouquets of cut flowers with the attending public.
9th October is the Diada de la Comunitat Valenciana, a
festivity which reminds us of the conquest of the Ciutat de València by the
Monarch Jaume I's troops in 1238. Furthermore, traditionally in Valencia the
festivity of Sant Dionis, the patron saint of lovers, is celebrated. Tradition
decrees giving gifts of handkerchiefs filled with candy and marzipan sweets,
sometimes sealed with a ring.