Comments on: Day of the Valencian Community http://www.holavalencia.net/2008/09/24/day-of-the-valencian-community/ A blog about Valencia - Guide, Photos, Restaurants, Fallas, Videos, Events, Food, Hostels, B&Bs and Hotels Thu, 11 Mar 2010 16:49:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Lo Rat Penat | Hola Valencia Blog http://www.holavalencia.net/2008/09/24/day-of-the-valencian-community/comment-page-1/#comment-5037 Lo Rat Penat | Hola Valencia Blog Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:54:54 +0000 http://www.holavalencia.net/?p=490#comment-5037 [...] 9th, the Day of the Valencian Community, is coming up in a couple days, so it seems like a good time to introduce Lo Rat Penat — [...] [...] 9th, the Day of the Valencian Community, is coming up in a couple days, so it seems like a good time to introduce Lo Rat Penat — [...]

]]> By: Recreation of the 1428 Cavalcade | Hola Valencia Blog http://www.holavalencia.net/2008/09/24/day-of-the-valencian-community/comment-page-1/#comment-1642 Recreation of the 1428 Cavalcade | Hola Valencia Blog Tue, 14 Oct 2008 14:23:39 +0000 http://www.holavalencia.net/?p=490#comment-1642 [...] part of celebrations for the Day of the Valencian Community, the city was treated to a highly authentic recreation of 1428’s civic cavalcade, originally [...] [...] part of celebrations for the Day of the Valencian Community, the city was treated to a highly authentic recreation of 1428’s civic cavalcade, originally [...]

]]> By: Festival of Pyrotechnics Link Friday | Random Good Stuff http://www.holavalencia.net/2008/09/24/day-of-the-valencian-community/comment-page-1/#comment-1604 Festival of Pyrotechnics Link Friday | Random Good Stuff Fri, 10 Oct 2008 19:19:54 +0000 http://www.holavalencia.net/?p=490#comment-1604 [...] to have even more distractions Valencia is celebrating The Day Of The Valencian Community filled with Mascletas, Firework Festivals (that’s where I shot the image above) and more [...] [...] to have even more distractions Valencia is celebrating The Day Of The Valencian Community filled with Mascletas, Firework Festivals (that’s where I shot the image above) and more [...]

]]> By: Festival of Pyrotechnics | Hola Valencia Blog http://www.holavalencia.net/2008/09/24/day-of-the-valencian-community/comment-page-1/#comment-1602 Festival of Pyrotechnics | Hola Valencia Blog Thu, 09 Oct 2008 19:14:12 +0000 http://www.holavalencia.net/?p=490#comment-1602 [...] the clock struck midnight, the celebrations for the Day of the Valencian Community were kicked off in the only way Valencians know how to kick things off: with a loud, lengthy [...] [...] the clock struck midnight, the celebrations for the Day of the Valencian Community were kicked off in the only way Valencians know how to kick things off: with a loud, lengthy [...]

]]> By: AJS http://www.holavalencia.net/2008/09/24/day-of-the-valencian-community/comment-page-1/#comment-1563 AJS Wed, 24 Sep 2008 22:52:07 +0000 http://www.holavalencia.net/?p=490#comment-1563 The procession of Moros and Cristianos goes on all day. The parade goes up Paz down Vincente Martir to the Ayuntamiento. It lasts 6 or 7 hours. The first year we watched a bit, went home for a nap, went out to eat and then went back to watch some more. Of course it ended in a Mascleta too. To me the marchers are like New Orleans Mardi Gras crews. Each group has their Moors and Christians. Some are authentically dressed, others have gotten so elaborate they are like Zena on crack. Many do not even try to be remotely related to the event it commemorates the Moors marching out and Jaime and his army marching in to retake Valencia. The blackface can be off putting to North Americans. In 2006 they sent a large group to NY to march down 5th Avenue on the 9th, for publicity for Valencia and the America's Cup. Right as they were set to go someone noticed the "Moros" had put makeup on to darken their skin. The publicists panicked and only let the Cristianos march. It is the 2nd biggest and best (or worse) Fiesta here. The procession of Moros and Cristianos goes on all day. The parade goes up Paz down Vincente Martir to the Ayuntamiento. It lasts 6 or 7 hours. The first year we watched a bit, went home for a nap, went out to eat and then went back to watch some more. Of course it ended in a Mascleta too.

To me the marchers are like New Orleans Mardi Gras crews. Each group has their Moors and Christians. Some are authentically dressed, others have gotten so elaborate they are like Zena on crack. Many do not even try to be remotely related to the event it commemorates the Moors marching out and Jaime and his army marching in to retake Valencia.

The blackface can be off putting to North Americans. In 2006 they sent a large group to NY to march down 5th Avenue on the 9th, for publicity for Valencia and the America’s Cup. Right as they were set to go someone noticed the “Moros” had put makeup on to darken their skin. The publicists panicked and only let the Cristianos march.

It is the 2nd biggest and best (or worse) Fiesta here.

]]>