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Workshop to immerse yourself in the impressive world of Fallas, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and create a souvenir ninot for home
What is the life of a fallero artist like? What do they do on a daily basis? How are ninots made? How are Fallas created? How do Valencians experience them?
This Fallas workshop answers all those questions. It is a workshop where you can firsthand experience everything surrounding a festival declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.
It is an event that reaches its peak from March 15th to 19th but is managed throughout the rest of the year in Fallera City, the venue for a theoretical and practical workshop.
Expert fallero artist
Visit the Fallero Museum
Visit the workshop of the fallero artist to learn about the artist’s daily life and all the culture around Fallas
Instructions and materials to develop a falla
Souvenir ninot for home
Date, time, and meeting point to be agreed upon
Personalization for the group
Minimum 15 people
With the permission of paella, Fallas is the flagship of Valencian culture, and with this workshop, the group will delve into the depths of our roots
They will know it up close. They will see, touch, and feel it on their own skin, just like Valencians do.
We’ll tell you the theory, but first, as a preview, the activity begins with a talk where our fallero artist explains the history of Fallas over time, from its beginnings with wood and fabric to today with more modern materials and 3D printers.
After the talk, the authentic Fallas workshop begins. We’ll provide all the necessary materials to model an authentic NINOT. Remember, these «works of art» will be yours; each group can take home their creation.
But as mentioned, shall we talk about the theory of Fallas?
A bit of fallera theory
Fallas are part of the Valencians’ DNA; they make perfect sense for us. It’s a unique and very particular tradition. However, it may be strange for outsiders to understand them and for us to explain them in a way they comprehend.
The audiovisual exhibition at the Fallero Museum—the first stop—will teach you not only about the origin of this festivity and its evolution but also about its entails.
It’s important to know all the festive events that take place during Fallas and all the elements specific to them.
Firecrackers
Firecrackers are vital to this festivity. In fact, people say that «Valencians have firecracker powder in their veins.» Fallas wouldn’t be well understood without fireworks displays and, above all, the traditional mascletà.
It’s difficult to explain a mascletà. It’s also complicated to explain how you feel when it happens. Your skin tingles, and you get emotional after a few brief minutes of rhythmic explosions that end with the traditional «final earthquake.»
Music
Just like Firecracker Powder, Fallas wouldn’t be the same without music. Numerous music bands spread throughout the Valencian territory take care of that. There are more than 1,100 music groups throughout the territory. Music accompanies any festive event in the Valencian Community. In fact, the 40,000 musicians in the Valencian Community represent 50% of all musicians in Spain.
The fallero monument: Fallas
And, of course, Fallas would only be complete with the traditional fallero monuments, the main protagonists during this festival.
These monuments are built on the streets throughout the city. Each falla or group of falleros builds its own monument, one large and one small, which remains on public display for four days, from the 15th—the official «plantà» day—to March 19th—the «cremà» day.
The essence of the falla or fallero monument is criticism. Social, political, economic, etc., criticisms are made through the ninots or figures that make up the monument, which we will work on in this Fallas workshop. They express criticism through satirical scenes or mockery that leaves no one indifferent who contemplates them.
During the Fallas workshop, we will learn firsthand how these incredible works of art are made.
The Valencian dress
The Valencian dress is one of the most beautiful regional dresses you can see.
Its origin lies in the attire worn by Valencian peasant women for work. They were much more humble and simple than they are today.
Depending on the materials and design, it can cost between €500 and over €15,000. The most expensive ones are made with spun silk, and they are entirely handmade, making them unique.
Valencian suit or fallero suit
The Valencian or fallero suit is quite different, as, until the mid-20th century, there was no formal one for the festival. The traditionally used one has been the Torrentí or Saragüell.
Currently, the gala suit has evolved and transformed over time. Many people use it, but many also prefer the Torrentí or Saragüell for gala events.
Chocolate with fritters
The Fallas festivity leaves a city filled with scents. It smells like firecracker powder, chocolate, and fritters. In every street, we find stalls selling hot chocolate and fritters. The most traditional ones are pumpkin fritters, round with a hole in the middle, although they also have the traditional churros, filled with chocolate or cream.
On cold days, a good way to gather strength to continue enjoying Fallas is to enjoy an excellent hot chocolate with fritters, something we can taste throughout the workshop.
The location couldn’t be better: in the same workplace as the fallero artists who flood Valencia with their artistic creations. The neighborhood of Fallera City is the beginning of this adventure.
These monuments, part of the UNESCO World Heritage, are worked on in many large warehouses. It’s important to note that they are worked on throughout the year, although Fallas culminate on March 19th with the cremà.
The fallero artist
The exceptional aspect of this experience is working side by side with a professional artist who dedicates all their time to creating fallero monuments.
Direct contact with the artist allows us to understand the meaning of Fallas much more closely.
Why do we invest so much effort and money in creating fallero monuments to burn them in the end, for example? Or what is the effort and challenge these artists face when creating? What materials do they use to make the fallero monuments withstand that seemingly impossible balance…
Workshop development
We start the most practical part in the fallero artist’s workshop after a tour of it.
With the materials provided by the artist, which are the same ones the artist works with throughout the year, to make the fallero monuments planted on March 15th in the streets of Valencia, we will start unleashing our creativity.
We will learn that the fallero artist’s work is unique and involves different subjects. In addition to the artistic part, where creativity or colorfulness counts, many other subjects come together. Like being well-informed about current affairs to convey a satirical message, especially on political or heart issues.
Also, issues regarding dimension calculation, weight, and structure are very important so that the monument doesn’t collapse. This is a fundamental element, as the idea is to impress and make it seem like the elements of the falla are in suspension.
A unique and personal creation
Thanks to this Fallas workshop, we will also delve into ourselves, as we will materialize our ideas and thoughts by creating a complete falla with its ninots.
With cork in hand, we will shape our imagination. We will cut, sand, and paint the cork to take home the best memory of this purely Valencian experience.
No, although being a tailored workshop, it can be included in the budget.
No, but we can reserve a restaurant of interest to the group.
Generally, except from mid-February until after the cremà on March 19th. It’s better to check.
Yes, it has to be a minimum group of 15 people.
Get in touch with us from here and make the request, and we will give you a quick response.
