Travel
Some even have fancy decorated carriages...
- Spanish Traditions: Marzipan Fruits For Lovers Day
Even before Valentine's Day was made popular in Spain, in Valencia, the Lovers Day was celebrated on the 9th of October. Nowadays, San Dionisio, the patron saint of lovers, is a relatively low-key tradition, shadowed by the Day of the Autonomous Community...
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Though Halloween is popular among the teenagers of Valencia, it's also quite different from what you'd imagine. As thousands of them hit the streets on the night of 31st of October, in an intent to show off their scary costumes, the truth...
- Las Fallas Festival, Valencia: Fallas & Ninots
Las Fallas or the Festival of Fire is held in Valencia, Spain every year from the 1st to the 19th of March. People hit the streets dressed up in traditional costumes, build a huge statue of Virgin Mary out of flowers and enormous fallas...
- Las Fallas Festival, Valencia: Mascleta
Las Fallas or the Festival of Fire is held in Valencia, Spain every year from the 1st to the 19th of March. People hit the streets dressed up in traditional costumes, build a huge statue of Virgin Mary out of flowers and enormous fallas...
- A Valencian Corner: The Silk Exchange, The Central Market And The Church Of Saint John
I´ve seen The Silk Exchange (La Lonja de la Seda) from Valencia (Spain) a thousand times. I love it and I could see it a thousand times more and still wouldn't get tired of it. The place is not very big and lacks furniture, but the huge wooden doors,...
Travel
9th of October Marks The Day Of The Valencian Community
The 9th of October marks the Day of the Valencian Community and therefore it is a bank holiday and a very good excuse for a historical street party. Solemn and leisure events are held throughout the day. But 9th of October is also Dia de San Dionisio - the Lovers Day in Valencia - celebrated with delicious marzipan fruits.
The history of the fiesta
After over 5 centuries of Islamic rule, Valencia was finally reconquered by the Christian army of King Jaime I in 1238. In a very generous gesture King Jaime I established the Valencian Kingdom as an autonomous region, with its own governing bodies and courts. It was on 9th of October 1238 that King Jaime's army entered the gates of Valencia, a week after it was surrendered by its Moorish defenders. This was the birth of the Valencian Community as we know it, and a source of great pride for Valencians today.
The fiesta
The celebrations start one week ahead. On the eve of the 8th of October a 45mins to 1h Pyrotechnical festival is held in the old course of the River Turia in the city of Valencia. On the 9th of October various events take place, like the descendance of the Valencian flag from the main balcony of the Valencia City Hall, a civic procession, the religious act of Te Deum, the performance of the Hymn of the Region of Valencia and a floral offering made in front of the equestrian statue of Jaime I that closes with a mascletà.
9th of October is also the Feast of Sant Dionís, the local San Valentine's Day
The 9th of October is also the Feast of Sant Dionís, traditionally considered the patron saint of those in love, for which reason it is the custom on this day to give the gift of the Mocadorà, a knotted silk handkerchief filled with home-cooked marzipan sweets made by Valencian confectioners. These sweets consist of the traditional cakes known as Piruleta i Tronador - small bars of marzipan, made with equal parts of almond and sugar filled with yolk - together with small pieces of marzipan in the shape of all types of fruit and items of food. If you're like me and adore marzipan you'll be happy to know that well ahead this very special day the patisseries of Valencia are ablaze with the most delicious array of colored marzipan nibbles.
The Procession of the entrance of Christians & Moors
At 5pm on the 9th of October, a three hours long procession of Christians and Moors takes the city’s streets, starting at the Glorieta park and ending in front of the City Hall. This procession is very colorful, pompous and the peak of the celebration. Various groups of Valencians dressed up in beautiful costumes of either Moors or Christians parade through Valencia's centre in a spectacular show with dance and music. The photos are from yesterday's procession.
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| They play... |
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| They dance... |
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Some even have fancy decorated carriages...
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| And some come on horseback... |
- Spanish Traditions: Marzipan Fruits For Lovers Day
Even before Valentine's Day was made popular in Spain, in Valencia, the Lovers Day was celebrated on the 9th of October. Nowadays, San Dionisio, the patron saint of lovers, is a relatively low-key tradition, shadowed by the Day of the Autonomous Community...
- Wandering Through Valencia General Cemetery On All Saints Day
Though Halloween is popular among the teenagers of Valencia, it's also quite different from what you'd imagine. As thousands of them hit the streets on the night of 31st of October, in an intent to show off their scary costumes, the truth...
- Las Fallas Festival, Valencia: Fallas & Ninots
Las Fallas or the Festival of Fire is held in Valencia, Spain every year from the 1st to the 19th of March. People hit the streets dressed up in traditional costumes, build a huge statue of Virgin Mary out of flowers and enormous fallas...
- Las Fallas Festival, Valencia: Mascleta
Las Fallas or the Festival of Fire is held in Valencia, Spain every year from the 1st to the 19th of March. People hit the streets dressed up in traditional costumes, build a huge statue of Virgin Mary out of flowers and enormous fallas...
- A Valencian Corner: The Silk Exchange, The Central Market And The Church Of Saint John
I´ve seen The Silk Exchange (La Lonja de la Seda) from Valencia (Spain) a thousand times. I love it and I could see it a thousand times more and still wouldn't get tired of it. The place is not very big and lacks furniture, but the huge wooden doors,...