Other festivals of interest
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.
