Las Fallas, in Valencia, are one of Spain’s main cultural and touristic attractions. The festival culminates on the night of March 18th when hundreds of satirical monuments that have been spread out around the city are burned. That night Valencia from the sky is a city full of gigantic hogueras (bonfires). The name of this climatic event is la cremà. This is a Valencian word that refers to the act of burning; to burn, quemar, is cremar in Valencian. La cremà is one of the most spectacular shows you can imagine. If you want to impress in the age of technology, go back to the basics and light some fuego (fire).
I remember being a child and forcing myself to stay awake until midnight to see ver, la cremà. The air of the night was chilly because spring had just said she was coming, and the warmth of the llamas (flames) was dearly welcomed. Soon, though, you had to step back, as the fire grew taller and taller and started to burn your face. It was amazing how quick it all ended, the gigantic bonfire was up and down in minutes. I always felt lucky to be able to go back home and felt sorry for the people that had to stay behind removing the cenizas (ashes). I am thinking now that through all the process there had to be plenty of humo (smoke) that got into your eyes and made you cry but, honestly, I can’t recall it.
