Today in Gandía was a day of good weather and a real party atmosphere, as the fiesta of Fallas got underway. Yesterday was in fact the official start of the festivities, but dreary, wet weather kept the crowds away. Today was a different matter, however, and the local people were out in force to see the 2.00pm fireworks display – more for the noise than the spectacle it has to be said – and then wander around the streets admiring the various fallas displays that have been built.
All the main streets have these huge effigies and caricatures – some as much as 3 or 4 stories high – as well as the squares and open areas. Each neighbourhood has built its own, which is entered into the overall competition, and also the local committees put on parades with their contenders for the Fallas Queen, with brass bands and marching groups of Falleras. The culmination of all this is on Saturday, March 19th when the burning (or “Quema” of the displays takes place, and the whole town stays up until the small hours, with market stalls in the streets and barbecues in the main squares.
