Reinas de Falleras

Dilara with our good friends David and Suni's (right corner) daughter Maria, reina de la Foc, Sagrada Familia-Corea.

When we were new to our environment, unfortunately many important traditions passed by without our notice. In November, there was a widely televised event of naming the 2008’s Fallera Mayor, Angela Bataller Palmer, and Fallera Mayor Infantil, Alba Garcia Lorente, which we paid little attention and did not even know the significance of the title until the Fallas in March.

Every year, each falla-community nominates and selects their local Reinas Fallas, which includes a group of girls in adults and youth. The number of Reinas vary community to community. In Gandia Sant Josep- Raval had five Reinas Infantil: Falla, Foc, Fiesta, Poesia and Art; while it had three adult Reinas: Falla, Foc and Fiesta. All communities must definitely have a Reina de Fallas and most also have Reina del Foc. Also each city's Junta Local Fallera and Ayuntamiento select its Fallera Mayor and Fallera Mayor Infantil and their courts. Each Fallera Mayor has her own court made up of representatives of each Falla-community. The Fallera Mayor is like the Miss USA: she is the face of the festival making visits to Valencian organizations and presiding on major events.

The title of Fallera is pretty prestigious in Valencia and the competition is fierce. The participation may cost one tens of thousands of Euros spent on clothing (some can be as expensive as $10,000), accessories, hair styling, make-ups and organizing and attending social events.

Our hair stylist, Amanda of X-Centric hair salon, fixing one of the reinas hair

All done - an art form!

Some people begin with running for Fallera Infantil and continue the competition up until they run out of money or no longer eligible. I am told that the ladies are nominated according to their specific qualities to represent these communities (wonder if the politics does not get involved at some point - my friend says "no!"), but I am not sure if one can also self-nominate. A group of men is also elected to accompany each fallera during some of the events. As in the case of the beauty contests everywhere, contradicting sentiments about the Fallera’s essence was also noticeable among younger generation.

During the Fallas parades, these reinas headed the parade of falla in their neighborhoods and attended the community functions mostly held in the tents by their monuments

Right before a parade when the corte de honor is getting ready

Three of the Fallera de Infantil (Maria in the middle)

Some of the representatives

We also saw the Fallera Mayor walking along with the dignitaries during the Santa Semana processions.

Far left in black dress Angela Bataller Palmer (Fallera Mayor de Gandia)during the hermandad Christ Resucido processions on March 23rd.

Throughout the week, the falleras walk around in their beautifully crafted folkloric outfits and male accompaniments in less flashy traditional clothing. They all have a band across their torso adorned by their representative communities’ insignia. The Falleras Mayores can be distinguished by the colors of the Valencian flag on their bandages.

For more info about this event, you may follow the following link:

http://www.ciberfallas.net/general/valencias-falleras-mayores-proclamation-act-2010/