CORPORACIÓN UNIVERSITARIA DEL CARIBE-CECAR

PARCIAL FINAL
Teacher: Stacey-Ann Smith. Área: Ingles SEM: 2021 Período 1
Date: Student:Luisa Fernanda Rincon Valderrama NOTA:
CAT-VILLAVICENCIO

A festival like no other – Les Falles in Valencia

As the city of Valencia has finally calmed down after a crazy week of festivities, I have finally

had the time to reflect on my experience at the incredible festival of Les Falles (in Valencian, or

Las Fallas in Spanish). The main festivities took place from the 15th to the 19th of March;

however, the build-up to the main events started as early as the end of February. The tradition is

a celebration and commemoration of Saint Joseph, and while it started as a feast day with small-

scale structures being burnt, it has now evolved into an extravagant festival filled with huge

papier-mâché sculptures, traditional Valencian dress, breathtaking firework displays, and, of

course, a great deal of fire.

The celebrations were like nothing I had ever seen before. The city was packed with people, the

population more than doubling! In the mornings daily processions took place, with brass bands,

live music and people in the most beautiful traditional Valencian dress. Each day la mascletà

display took place in the main plaza, which is essentially a display of gunpowder explosions

(similar to fireworks you would see at night). All of the explosions were perfectly timed, making
unique loud bangs accompanied with intensely pigmented coloured smoke. Each night there

were amazing firework displays.

They filled the sky with vibrant colours and lights while the whole city watched in awe, churros

and buñuelos (fried dough) in hand. There were also magnificent light shows timed to music,

which honestly put any Christmas lights I have ever seen to shame! The partying went on until

the early hours of the morning. Each night you would turn down a different street and find a new

crowd of people dancing and enjoying the music and atmosphere.

Walking through the city during the week I felt like I was in a real-life cartoon, as down the

streets of different neighbourhoods you would find huge sculptures of figures known as ninots

(and when fully constructed known as Falles). Each part of the city has its own group of people

known as the Casal faller who raise money during the year to create the specific sculpture for

that neighbourhood. Looking at the different ninots you could see how much time and effort had

been put into every detail. They really were works of art! They all surrounded different themes,

the ones made by children being more fun and light-hearted, while the bigger ones were more

comedic, many with satirical and political themes.

Everyone from young children to older people could be seen letting off explosives, from small

firecrackers to huge loud fireworks. This definitely took some getting used to, as every day the

noise of firecrackers and fireworks would fill the streets. In the beginning I found myself

flinching at every small sound. However, by the end it became completely normal and when the

festival had finished the silent streets felt oddly unfamiliar.

were set alight and burnt to the ground. This was extremely surreal to watch. At first it seemed

like such a shame to see all of these amazing works of art being burnt to ashes. However, at the

same time it was strangely satisfying watching each part of the structure crumble and fall.

Overall, Les Falles was the most unique and energetic festival I have ever experienced and I

definitely hope to return again in the future!

Questions:

1. Where does the celebration of Les Falles take place?

In Valencian, or Las Fallas in Spanish.

2. What is Las Fallas / Les Falles?

festival of Les Falles (in Valencian, or Las Fallas in Spanish).

3. When does the Fallas celebration take place?

the 15th to the 19th of March; however, the build-up to the main events started as early as

the end of February.

4. La Mascleta is held on which day?

Each day la mascletà display took place in the main plaza,

5. What is the importance of La Falla?

The tradition is a celebration and commemoration of Saint Joseph

6. What were the themes about?

7. True / False – All the Fallas are burnt at the end of the festival?

TRUE

8. What special foods can be seen at this festival?

churros and fritters

9. What are some activities that can be seen at this festival?

extravagante fiesta llena de enormes esculturas de papel maché, trajes tradicionales

valencianos, impresionantes espectáculos pirotécnicos y, por supuesto, mucho fuego.

10. Who is able to attend this special event?

Everyone from young children to older people could be seen

Christmas in Colombia

By: BethanBlogger2017

Spending Christmas in a foreign country can be a truly eye-opening experience, especially since

it’s easy to assume that as a worldwide festivity, most countries probably celebrate in a fairly

similar manner. Being from the UK, Christmas for me is representative of spending time with

family and friends; exchanging presents; eating and drinking; and, of course, hiding from the

cold. In Colombia, given that about 90 per cent of the population identifies as Christian, the

majority being Roman Catholic, Christmas is viewed much more as a time which devotes itself

to religion.
With festivities beginning on 7 December, Colombia is recognised as having the longest

Christmas celebration period in the world. On this day, Colombians celebrate el Día de las

Velitas, velitas meaning 'little candles', which pays tribute to the Immaculate Conception of the

Virgin Mary. The festivities generally begin in the evening with the lighting of candles and

lanterns, either in the street, parks or outside people's homes. Cities are lit up by lanterns and

fireworks, as this day marks the beginning of the Christmas period — although decorations have

been up since early November. Another Catholic tradition in Colombia is La Novena de

Aguinaldos, which as well as being a religious tribute also functions as a social occasion, where

during the nine days before Christmas family members and friends meet up to pray, sing songs

and share traditional foods.

Probably the biggest surprise for me has been the music people listen to during the Christmas

period. At first, you could easily mistake these songs for the

classic salsa, vallenato and cumbia, which is played all year round – to be honest, they pretty

much are, except they mention Navidad and Año Nuevo in the lyrics, 'Christmas' and 'New Year'.

Being used to the likes of Band Aid, Mariah Carey and John Lennon, I was a bit baffled when I

first encountered these festive songs. However, after asking a Colombian if it really felt like

Christmas music, they explained to me that the songs are cherished more for the memories they

represent than for the way they sound, and that Colombia had been through so many dark periods

in history, it was important to hold on to the good memories of years gone past.

Being in a country like Colombia during this festive period has taught me that you don’t need to

identify as religious to participate in these Christmas traditions. Just like at home, at the end of

the day, the defining feature will always be friends and family sharing moments together as they

welcome in the New Year. 

1. Which region does the speaker originate from?

from the UK

2. Why do Colombians celebrate day of the little candles?

'little candles', which pays tribute to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary.

3. What did the speaker learn from spending Christmas here in Colombia?

Being in a country like Colombia during this festive period has taught me that you don’t

need to identify as religious to participate in these Christmas traditions. Just like at home,

at the end of the day, the defining feature will always be friends and family sharing

moments together as they welcome in the New Year.

4. According to the text, when do Colombians start to decorate their homes?

although decorations have been up since early November.

5. What’s the importance of ‘La Novena’ according to the speaker?

Another Catholic tradition in Colombia is La Novena de Aguinaldos, which as well as

being a religious tribute also functions as a social occasion, where during the nine days

before Christmas family members and friends meet up to pray, sing songs and share

traditional foods.

6. What was shocking to the speaker regarding Colombian Christmas songs?

Probably the biggest surprise for me has been the music people listen to during the

Christmas period. At first, you could easily mistake these songs for the classic salsa,

vallenato and cumbia, which is played all year round – to be honest, they pretty much are,

except they mention Navidad and Año Nuevo in the lyrics, 'Christmas' and 'New Year'.
 Being used to the likes of Band Aid, Mariah Carey and John Lennon, I was a bit baffled

when I first encountered these festive songs

7. How do you think the speaker feels about Christmas in Colombia?

feels a little surprised by the variety of celebrations that Colombians have during the

month of December, but finally we see that there is no exception of people for this

celebration that the most important thing is to share with family or with the people we

love.

8. What does the speaker mean by ‘eye opening experience’ according to the text?

experiencia realmente reveladora, sobre todo porque es fácil asumir que, al ser una

festividad mundial, la mayoría de los países probablemente la celebran de forma bastante

similar. Siendo del Reino Unido, la Navidad para mí es representativa de pasar tiempo

con la familia y los amigos; intercambiar regalos; comer y beber; y, por supuesto,

esconderse del frío. En Colombia, dado que cerca del 90% de la población se identifica

como cristiana, siendo la mayoría católica, la Navidad se ve mucho más como una época

dedicada a la religión.

9. In your opinion what do you think about Christmas.

For me Christmas is not really meaningful but I love the illuminations that are presented

during these festivities for me and my family Christmas is not really meaningful for us is

more important the new year because according to my family we all should receive the

year together because we do not know if next year we all will be together.

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