Mr. Sinasy © 2012 All rights reserved

As you probably all know Mr. Sinasy absolutely loves the Fallas festival in Valencia. And because one week just isn’t enough, he had set his mind to visit Valencia on one of the most important days of the festival: the day of La Cridá. This is the official opening ceremony of the festival (last Sunday of February), where the Fallera Mayor receives the keys to the city from the mayor and declares the festival to be started (if it actually ever stops).

So, on Friday February 22nd Mr. Sinasy and his son took a plane to Valencia to find themself enjoying a paella at the beach of Valencia less than 4 hours later under a clear blue sky and a nice temperature of 19 degrees Celsius.

 

After that the two of them went for an evening stroll through the town of Valencia. Eventually, they ended up in a Tapas bar where they tasted and enjoyed different kinds of Tapas while talking with their travelling companions and in the meanwhile getting acquainted with new amigos.

 

Fruitflies like a banana and time flies like an arrow when you’re having fun, so before they knew it it was already past one o’clock. Time to go to bed, because the next day they had to get up early to go to the city of Castellón (approximately 70 kilometers north of Valencia).

As fate would have it this year the day of La Cridá coincided with the start of the Fiesta de la Magdalena in Castellón. This Fiesta always starts on the third Saterday of Lent (the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter) and lasts for 9 days. The festival has its origin in the year 1251 when the city of Castellón was transferred from the Magdalena hill to the coastal plains. It’s a festival that’s mainly celebrated in the streets with “Gaiates” (sculptures of light referring to the lanterns that the people used when descending the hill), parades, music, dance, food and of course….. fireworks.

In 2006 Mr. Sinasy had already visited the second part of the Magdalena festival (at that time being held immediately after Las Fallas). This year he would enjoy the official start of the festival. For him and his travelling companions this day started with a big Mascletá at 12 o’clock in the afternoon. A special moment for all of them, because this was their first Mascletá of the year.

 

After this somewhat emotional reencounter with gunpowder, that was long awaited for, it was time for a walk through the town to join the Tapas fiesta. Dozens of stands of Tapas-bars in the streets with lots of different kinds of Tapas to choose from. It’s absolutely amazing to taste and enjoy some Tapas out in the streets together with thousands of people on a sunny day with clearblue skies.

 

After eating, it’s time for relaxation and the “Cabalgata del Pregó” was just the time and place to do that. This is a parade that commemorates ancient times as can be seen in the pictures below.

 

 

What better way to end they day with a beautiful firework display?

More about La Magdalena at http://magdalena.comunitatvalenciana.com.

 

And then, the next day, after a night with only 4 hours of sleep, it finally arrived, the long anticipated day of La Cridá. The alarmclock went at 6 in the morning, because the day was going to start early with La Despertá (i.e. waking up of the city with music and fireworks). The Despertá was set to start at 7:30, but preparations had already started a little before 7 o’clock. At that time almost 1500 persons had already gathered to receive their packages with Tro de Bac. The Tro de Bac is a piece of firework that bangs when thrown onto the ground. The powder inside is ignited by means of friction. Because this is a potentially dangerous kind of firework, people had to sign a special form two weeks in advance in order to receive their package of Tro de Bac on this given day. In total over 200.000 Tro de Bac were used. The Despertá officially started with a Traca (string of firecrackers) and after that people could start throwing their Tro de Bac. In a long and loud parade with a musicband in front, people set out for the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. In the pictures you will notice that almost everyone is wearing a handkerchief over their nose and mouth, which isn’t in vain because the smoke irritates the respiratory system.

 

 

 

Once arrived at the Plaza del Ayuntamiento the Despertá was concluded with a big Terremoto (dozens of Tracas with BIG firecrackers) and a Bombardeo Aéreo (salutes in the air).

 

After this fantastic finale everyone was invited to a typical breakfast consisting of croissants and warm chocolate to regain strength. A welcome and delightfull source of energy for a day that had just started, but wasn’t going to end soon.

 

In the early afternoon after the Mascletá aérea Mr. Sinasy went to meet up with some old friends and regain even some more strength. A warm welcome was his part at the Casal (clubhouse) of Falla Bicicleta. He laughed, talked, drank and ate all afternoon with the heartwarming people of this Falla.

 

And before he even knew time had arrived to go to the Torres de Serranos (one of the remaining city gates) and listen to the openingspeech of this year’s Fallera Mayor: Gloria Martínez Amigó. Although the weather was cold, wet and windy over 30.000 people gathered for the official start of Fallas.

“Ja estem en Falles!!! Visquen les Falles!!! I Vixca València!!!”

 

 

 

A short (because of the rain) fireworksdisplay concluded this official act. Our evening ended in yet another bar where we warmed up and enjoyed some more great Tapas and some paella. In short Mr. Sinasy enjoyed a fantastic weekend which went by to fast, but felt like it lasted for a week.

Fortunately, he will return on March 13th. You just might meet him after each Mascletá near the main entrance of the Plaza (near the Fallera balcony) or after each Castillo in The Black Sheep on the Plaza Porta de la Mar.

Hasta muy pronto!