Mascleta

Friday the 9th was the Día de la Comunidad Valenciana, so there were events going on in the city all weekend. On Saturday afternoon, my host parents took me in the city to watch, or rather, hear a mascleta. I’ll do my best to describe what a mascleta is:

Mascleta is purely a Valencian tradition- you wouldn’t find it anywhere else in Spain. This is because, according to my host parents, Valencians love noise. And that’s really what a mascleta is- noise. My host dad and I managed to push our way up to the front of the huge crowd in the Plaza de la Ayuntamiento, but I really wasn’t sure what I was supposed to be seeing. It was basically rows and rows of strings with colorful objects hanging from them (see above- I found the picture online because all of mine didn't turn out). At two o’clock sharp, everyone started to whistle, because it was time for it to start. And then, out of nowhere, I heard the LOUDEST EXPLOSION OF MY LIFE. I resisted the urge to run in the opposite direction, and my host dad explained that it was one of two warning shots, marking the beginning of the “show.” Then came the second one.

I started to fear for my life (or at least, the life of my eardrums), considering that those were only warning shots. Then it began. It was 5 solid minutes of explosions, one after another, with smoke growing so thick you couldn’t see in front of you. The explosions grew louder and louder, and for the “finale” the explosions happened faster and faster, eventually developing a rhythm until the final BANG. My ears literally hurt. I was suddenly glad I have Spanish health insurance because I was quite sure my American eardrums had burst at all this Valencian noise. Eventually, I regained my hearing, and my host dad told me that this is nothing compared to Fallas (a week long Valencian festival in March that everyone talks about constantly). Apparently it’s even louder then, although they have “restrictions” on how loud it can get.

After the mascleta we drove home, and I had to laugh that the whole thing had barely lasted 5 minutes. I loved it though. Just one of those crazy traditions that make you smile and think about how lucky you are to be here in Spain experiencing life like a Spaniard.