“Diez minutos.”
More people than will physically fit in the streets are trying to jam their way into the packed crowd at Las Fallas. Like it or not, you can feel everybody’s breath around you on your shoulders, hair. The combination of the midday sun and the sheer amount of people is creating a suffocating heat. A helicopter is thudding above the crowds, circling the Plaza Mayor.
“Cinco minutos.”
You can feel the anticipation in the pulsing crowd. Everyone is pushing further and further into the main square to catch a glimpse of the frenzy that’s coming soon. The sun is climbing higher and higher into the sky. People start shifting, trying to remove jackets and layers without losing their coveted spot, while hopeful watchers in the back try to might take advantage of the distraction.
“¡Un minuto!”
Everybody tenses and crushes forward. The thudding helicopter circles lower and louder. I don’t even know what’s coming next, but I do know that I want to see it, and I want the best view possible. I lost most of my friends in the fray fifteen minutes ago, but now that it’s here all my anxious thoughts have been pushed out by my excitement. Whatever “it” is.
The clock strikes 2 and….BOOM.
The square shakes with the first explosion. A firework shrieks into the air, leaving behind a trail of dirty white smoke. You can just barely see the red sparks shooting into the blue skies.
My whole body vibrates with the pounding explosions. This is a celebration you can physically feel in your entire body.
By now, the whole place is filled with heavy clouds of smoke. Each rumbling blast sends a shiver through your body, shaking you to your core.
Suddenly, everything goes quiet. There’s a collective intake of breath. Is this it?
An explosion goes off in the distance.
Now they’re shooting fireworks off the other side of the plaza. There’s a roar of new bangs before a wailing trail of red and gold explosions bursts high in the sky. You can’t see anything through the dusty clouds. It looks like windy days in the desert when the air blows all the dirt high into the sky.
More bangs, blasts, and then…BOOM!
Just when I thought it couldn’t get any louder, the entire Plaza Mayor is filled with surround-sound explosions, clouds of smoke, and occasional bursts of glittery fireworks in the middle.
It builds up into a frenzy, so loud you can barely hear yourself think. There’s one final, glorious explosion of noise and excitement and bangs….
And then, suddenly, it’s all over.
People slowly start to cheer and clap (“Is that it?”), the volume swelling to fill the square with an explosion of voices. Then, as quickly as the Mascletà began, the crowd suddenly whirls outwards in search of the next stage of the festival.
Las Fallas has officially started for the day.
Besos!
-Jess
Looks like fun!! I just love how the Spanish throw the best parties 🙂
It was! Another great Spanish street party 🙂
Love the descriptions of all the banging and booming.
Thanks! It was fun to write. 🙂
I don’t know that I’d like Fallas! I’ve never been enticed to go, it seems like a pyrotechnic version of holy week with all of those crowds.
Pyrotechnic is a good word! There were fires or small explosions everywhere.
It was ridiculously crowded for the kickoff of the party and around lunchtime, but after that it wasn’t quite as intense. It was still fairly crowded the whole time I was there.
That sounds like… my worst nightmare! Crowds, parties, noise… not me. Book, cake, coffee, comfy sofa, here I come 🙂
Hahaha oh dear, then Las Fallas is definitely not your thing! 🙂 I swear, something explodes about every two minutes at that party, if not more frequently.
Y saliste con vida para contarlo! Qué más se puede pedir? Por cierto, no te pierdes ni una fiesta!!
Jeje no eres la primera persona que me ha dicho algo así! 😀
Wow, it’s so hard to put the Mascleta into words but I think you’ve captured it perfectly!
Thanks! 🙂
you think this is as loud as the Santa Tecla Festival in Tarragona? Ive never been to anything this loud. Not even a rock metal concert is so loud.
heres a video i made.
http://larkycanuck.com/2013/02/26/larkycanuck-com-travel-adventures-spain-santa-tecla-festival-of-tarragona-catalonia/
I haven’t been! It does sound extremely loud. Haha I guess I’ll have to check this one out to properly compare them! It looks great from your post. Do you know when it is?
In October I think. Just google it.
In the process! 😉
We once stayed in a parador in a small Spanish village. What we didn’t know before checkin, was the Saturday morning festival started out at 6AM, with a barrage of cannon fire. And of course, the cannon was on a village wall about 10 feet from our hotel room window. I don’t remember the village, but I do remember the cannon fire. ~James
That would definitely be a wake-up call! Haha I think I would have fallen out of bed in shock. How did you respond?
I love how happy everyone looks in the first picture…
I went to a car show the other day (for work) and one company was handing out earplugs as their handout. I was wondering why until it started and I thought my ears were going to bleed. Hope your ears made it alright.
How long is this festival? Sounds eventful!!
Hahaha they do look pretty pleased…I bet it was the combination of heat and being way too packed in.
I found that it was more stressful for my nerves than my ears. Everyone was setting off street fireworks, and you never knew where the next explosion was happening.
Las Fallas lasts 5 days, and it ends with a huge party where they burn all the paper sculptures except the best one.
sooo kind of like burning man, but in the middle of a city?
Hmm…I’ve never been to Burning Man, but my main idea of it is that it’s really crazy and people live out their other-world fantasies and whatnot (which would have been fun, but didn’t happen at this one).
I assume they burn stuff too from the name, and that definitely happens at Las Fallas!
I’ve never been either, but Big Picture by the Boston Globe featured it a couple times and it looks like they burn these HUGE wooden structures at the end.
Ahhh always wanted to go to Las Fallas. Will see, maybe next year. Great photos!
It’s a lot of fun! I was only there for a day, so I’d like to go back to see more of the festival.
I wish ive seen one while i was in Spain…:( btw, ive mentioned you on my post: http://maedetera.wordpress.com/2013/04/30/blogger-award/
It’s definitely one of my favorite festivals so far!
Thanks very much for the mention, btw. 🙂
Last year I really wanted to go to las Fallas and this year I couldn’t because it coincided with my trip to Belgium! A friend who went said the same thing- SO LOUD. Explosions all the time. Hope to go one day. Though I still jump when I head random booms in the streets, whether it’s a party or not in Spain. Maybe it wouldn’t be the best festival for me on 2nd thought.
Ya, I was jumping from being surprised by little fireworks all day! But after a while you start to spot the people setting them off (usually teenage boys), so it’s not so bad.
Great take on Mascleta Jess! It’s a pretty hard event to describe too as you can’t show much of a daytime fireworks show in photos! Made me look forward to heading back for Fallas again though!
Thanks Carl! The daytime fireworks definitely don’t show up well in person – but check out Caitlyn’s blog from above in the comments, she managed some great shots.
Fallas 2013? 🙂
Sweet, I definitely will do!
2013? Think I’ve missed that one sadly 😛 But 2014 is definitely the plan yes! 😀
Maybe see you there! 😀 I’m desperate to go again.
This was great fun. I wish I was there. Boom Boom sound can attract every attention. This festival is very adventures. Glad to read all these activities.
It was a noisy but fun festival!
Nice description of the mascletà! Next time you have to move closer to the square, otherwise you will never really understand it.
Haha I did try my best this year, but it was impossible! I’ll have to go earlier next time. Thanks!
Yes , the “experts” go a couple of hours before to get a good spot 🙂
At this link you have my little comment about the same subject. I wish I could write as well as you, so I use the graphic help 🙂
http://wp.me/pLtki-Yn
Ooh that’s a great drawing!
Thanks! Next time you come to Fallas, just let me know and I’ll tell you the best spots to enjoy the mascletà 🙂
Will do! 🙂 I may have to go again next year…
Will do! 🙂