Fallas

Ah, Sundays. There's nothing better than sleeping in on a lazy Sunday morning, taking your time with breakfast, coffee, the paper. Disbelief and a gratifying sense of shame when you realize that it's already 1:30 in the afternoon and you're still in your pajamas. These Sunday morning hours were so peaceful, though! You can be forgiven for wasting them in a haze of comfort.

Welcome to the 75th Ninot Exhibition. I moved to Valencia almost exactly a year ago; back then I had no idea what Fallas or Ninots were. But I have learned … learned very well.

Ninots are tiny figures (compared to the big huge Fallas) which are placed within a Fallas exhibit. They provide some humor, often reflecting on the happenings of the past year. It’s similar to the Carnival I know from Germany and other places from around the world.

The exhibit is a nice way to take a closer look at the often beautiful and artistic figures before they're placed on the streets during La Planta (we will explain that one soon) and finally burned on La Crema. One thing is certain – all the Ninots are burnt, except for the one saved by a public vote.

If you're interested in some of the Ninots of 2008, feel free to click here.

Now: are you ready for some fun?

Spanish | German

We've just put the finishing touches on HolaValencia's exclusive Fallas 2009 Poster, which we previewed a couple weeks ago. Without further ado: