FALLES 2018
The Falles, or Fallas, Is a traditional celebration held in commemoration of Saint Joseph in the city of Valence, in Spain.
The term Falles refers to both the celebration and the monuments burnt during the celebration.
Each neighborhood of the city has an organized group of people, the Casal faller, that works all year long holding fundraising parties and dinners, usually featuring the famous dish, paella, a specialty of the region.
Each casal faller produces a construction known as a fallawhich is eventually burnt.
Its origin comes from the habit of the carpenters, every March 19th (Saint Joseph, patron of carpenters), to burn all the pieces of junk gathered during the year to bless their workshops.
The spirit, which is still alive, is to forget the sorrow of the winter and face live from a more optimistic and spring perspective.
Say goodbye to the winter by combining the falles celebration and the sailing in the Gulf of Valence.
MARITIME EASTER WEEK
The maritime quarters of the city of Valence celebrate this religious festivity with a longstanding tradition, which has three crowning moments: the Blessing of the Palms, the Procession of the Holy Burial, and the Resurection Parade.
The origins of this festivity date back to the 15th century, and Valence's special relationship with the sea make it a unique adaptation of the typical Easter Week rituals.
Over 30 religious brotherhoods and associations, in addition to the municipal authorities, take part in this event. The floats featured in the processions include particularly the one bearing the carved image of La Veronica, by Mariano Benlliure. In addition to the static images belonging to each of the religious associations or cofradías, there are other living re-enactments, such as the one where the local inhabitants dressed in as biblical figures join the procession accompanied by the chiming of bells and music.
The Holy Burial takes place on Good Friday, and is an act steeped in silence and solemn contemplation. On Sunday and Easter Monday, the custom is for families to go down to the old riverbed to enjoy typical produce such as the delicacies known as monas (typical Easter pies with hard-boiled eggs). Easter Sunday is also the day of the traditional ceremony of the Meeting of Christ with his Mother, a moment marked by the release of doves and showers of flower petals.
Enjoy with us the popular traditions and sailing in the Gulf of Valence
Or if you prefer, you can enjoy the start of the spring in Pitiusas islands (Balearic).
LA RUTA DE LA SAL
During the Second Carlist War, also called Guerra dels Matiners (risers), 1846, the Carlist armies imposed a tough blockade on the city of Barcelona, as a result of which, there was a profound shortage of salt.
To address this contingency, a philanthropist and businessman of the city proposed bringing large shipments of salt to Barcelona from Ibiza and Formentera, however, the services would be paid to vessels based on the order of arrival. The first will lead the gold while the latter only just to pay the crew, this caused the first race of the regatta that faced no less than thirteen vessels.
“Halcón Maltés“, a 32m schooner from Baltimore de 32 m skippered by the greek Andreas Potrus was the first in the finish line, followed by the xebec “Jerba” and the brigantine “Arrogante”.
Since 1989, there were celebrated fun regattas that over the years became a must to travel to Ibiza. This is the spirit that, in 1989 moved to launch the first sports edition of La Ruta de la Sal regatta, a popular racing sailboat.
If you are either and experienced sailor or an amateur, we propose you to do somenthing different during this Easter Holidays and join SEVEN DAYS ON BOARD to participate in the most popular regatta in the Mediterranean sea.