Do they burn the Virgin?

I think this is the first question that any newcomer to Las Fallas asks.  I mean, if they are about incinerate 500 or so fallas, the most expensive representing an investment of over 1 million euros, what’s to stop them here?

As it turns out, the Virgin is not reduced to ashes.  She is allowed to stand in her flowery splendour until her body is virtually rotting away - is that better, really?

The Offering of Flowers - Ofrenda de las Flores - takes place on the 17th and 18th of March.  It is essentially an all-day procession of representatives of the casals fallers  - fallas organizations - dressed in their traditional finery carrying flowers to Our Lady of the Forsaken - La Virgen de los Desamparados - (AKA the Virgin Mary) so that her giant skeletalframe can be completed withthe fragrant carnations.  It’s both a joyful and reverent affair - just about the only event during this festival that shatter the peace in some way or another.

Our group of eight braved the crowds last night to take a look - we got seperatedin the crowds a few times but managed to get there, all together, to see the offering in person.  I’m not usually one to brave the throngs, but I was surprised by how little cajoling and there was.  With Oscar on my shoulders waving his balloon-sword (thanks Aba and G!) the multitude parted before us without incident.

Katie and I finally made it to bed at about 4 AM, just before the band that had taken up nocturnal residence in the square nest to our building finished their last performance.  I was not impressed a few hours later when the despertà (wake-up call) passed under our window.  I was convinced that it wasn’t happening as this was the first one to come near us.  I thought about taking a picture…

As I write this the final mascletà is booming.  I think I’m going to miss this daily explosion of firecrackers - it’s been a useful way to keep track of lunchtime.  That said, I’m off to have a snack and the first of what I presume will be many glasses of wine on the last day of Las Fallas- and the only day that is oficially a holiday.

More to come…