Comments on: Fallas burn out http://www.ivaninvalencia.com/2009/03/fallas-burn-out/ An Expat's Exploration Fri, 30 Jul 2010 13:32:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Martin http://www.ivaninvalencia.com/2009/03/fallas-burn-out/comment-page-1/#comment-330 Martin Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:40:18 +0000 http://www.ivaninvalencia.com/?p=111#comment-330 Obviously Las Fallas is very important in many ways, not least attracting tourism to the area. However, the amount spent on the festival has been criticised. Here's a link to one relevant story: http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_20556.shtml Now, it has to be said that the preparation and the budgeting for Las Fallas begins 12 months previously, more or less as the ashes and debris are being cleared from that year's event. So the organisers and falleros can be forgiven if Las Fallas 2009 seemed rather over the top given the current economic climate. However, next year may have to be different. I'm not so sure that building bigger and bigger fallas and putting on brighter and more intricate light shows (did you see the display in calle Sueca? - it's a very famous one)is necessarily the right way to go. Small is beautiful too, and I have the feeling that something of the spirit of the festival is being lost in the striving for hugeness. As for attracting visitors, I don't think that they would care too much, or even realise at all, if things were scaled down to some extent in 2010. There's a wider issue to be discussed here, that of Valencia's preoccupation with "big" events such as the Americas Cup and the Formula 1 circuit...inevitably such debates bring politics and a lot of controversy with them and I don't want to clutter up this comments section with my own opinions on them. But it is something to bear in mind. Obviously Las Fallas is very important in many ways, not least attracting tourism to the area. However, the amount spent on the festival has been criticised. Here’s a link to one relevant story:

http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_20556.shtml

Now, it has to be said that the preparation and the budgeting for Las Fallas begins 12 months previously, more or less as the ashes and debris are being cleared from that year’s event. So the organisers and falleros can be forgiven if Las Fallas 2009 seemed rather over the top given the current economic climate.

However, next year may have to be different. I’m not so sure that building bigger and bigger fallas and putting on brighter and more intricate light shows (did you see the display in calle Sueca? - it’s a very famous one)is necessarily the right way to go. Small is beautiful too, and I have the feeling that something of the spirit of the festival is being lost in the striving for hugeness. As for attracting visitors, I don’t think that they would care too much, or even realise at all, if things were scaled down to some extent in 2010.

There’s a wider issue to be discussed here, that of Valencia’s preoccupation with “big” events such as the Americas Cup and the Formula 1 circuit…inevitably such debates bring politics and a lot of controversy with them and I don’t want to clutter up this comments section with my own opinions on them. But it is something to bear in mind.

]]> By: Martin http://www.ivaninvalencia.com/2009/03/fallas-burn-out/comment-page-1/#comment-306 Martin Mon, 23 Mar 2009 17:25:55 +0000 http://www.ivaninvalencia.com/?p=111#comment-306 Hmmm..we just fleed again...or is it flew again, I'm not sure! But it's a fiesta you have to try once or twice, I reckon, along with those of Pamplona (not really for young kids, though) and other local festivals up and down the country. Hmmm..we just fleed again…or is it flew again, I’m not sure! But it’s a fiesta you have to try once or twice, I reckon, along with those of Pamplona (not really for young kids, though) and other local festivals up and down the country.

]]> By: ryan http://www.ivaninvalencia.com/2009/03/fallas-burn-out/comment-page-1/#comment-303 ryan Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:15:05 +0000 http://www.ivaninvalencia.com/?p=111#comment-303 So you plan on staying next year? Not going to flee! :) So you plan on staying next year? Not going to flee! :)

]]> By: Ivan http://www.ivaninvalencia.com/2009/03/fallas-burn-out/comment-page-1/#comment-290 Ivan Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:49:31 +0000 http://www.ivaninvalencia.com/?p=111#comment-290 Thanks for the correction Emilio - I was close but not quite there. "Bombero maricón" could be translated as "firefighting faggot". The whole thing was really very funny to watch, especially from our dry, safe balcony. Thanks for the correction Emilio - I was close but not quite there. “Bombero maricón” could be translated as “firefighting faggot”. The whole thing was really very funny to watch, especially from our dry, safe balcony.

]]> By: Emilio J. http://www.ivaninvalencia.com/2009/03/fallas-burn-out/comment-page-1/#comment-287 Emilio J. Sun, 22 Mar 2009 12:36:52 +0000 http://www.ivaninvalencia.com/?p=111#comment-287 They said: Bombero maricón! That's just a joke because the firefighters throw water on the crowd because they are so near to the falla when It's burning. They said: Bombero maricón!
That’s just a joke because the firefighters throw water on the crowd because they are so near to the falla when It’s burning.

]]>