(from the October 1998 issue of American Fireworks News)

In March, the place for fireworks lovers to be is in Valencia, Spain. For more than two weeks, culminating in the five days before, and including, St. Joseph's feast day, March 19, Valencia celebrates Las Fallas. "Falla" means bonfire, and the practice of ceremonial bonfires in Valencia is centuries old. Some say the Fallas originally began as a pagan ritual for the first day of Spring. Others say it was instigated more by carpenters who burned their scraps from winter work in honor of their patron saint San Jose.

Within the last 150 years, a more refined traditions of creating, then burning, elaborate figures (Fallas) has developed. A falla is a structure made of white cork sculptured around a light wood frame. (Not too many years ago a more lengthy process of molding clay and papier maché was used).

A falla is a work of art, usually abundant in satire and irreverence. The construction of a falla takes most of the year and costs between $10,000 and $30,000, depending on the financial capabilities of the neighborhood community that contracts it. This is a lot of money and effort considering the fact that the falla is to be burned on the 19^th, the night of la cremá.

Watching a two-story tall falla burn is a magnificently crazy, and moving spectacle. Considering that in Valencia there are over 370 fallas being consumed simultaneously is awe-inspiring. A fireman's nightmare.

The night of the cremá is the climax and heart of las Fallas of Valencia, but for fireworks lovers there is much more. The region has a long tradition of fireworks and is home to several dozen fireworks businesses, a handful of whom are world-class (the various Caballer, Brunchú, Arnal, Plastcos Gamon, El Gato, and Igual from nearby Barcelona, to name a few). On the five nights prior to the 19^th a large fireworks display, un castillo* de fuegos artificiales, (which Chicago or New York would be pleased to have on the 4^th of July), is presented in the city's dry river basin, and witnessed by tens of thousands of demanding spectators.

Fireworks are taken seriously in Valencia. In the official programs after the listing of the day's pyrotechnic events, one reads "presented by" and the name of the fireworks company in charge of the work. This is a small detail, but significant. There are several newspaper articles each day which comment on the fireworks. Were they good? How was the rhythm and the structure of the show? All reveal a certain degree of knowledge and appreciation.

The companies compete with each other, vying for the prestige of being the best of this year's fallas, and each night they are expected to top the performance of the night before. For this reason the companies fire for pride and not for money. In Valencia you will see excellent Roman candles, which are a Spanish specialty, and a beautiful use of the whole sky - the entire canvas.

Even more particular and more important to the Valencian fireworks tradition is the mid-day mazcletá. These are chains of ground bombs and branches of traca hung on wires some six-feet off the ground, and fused to batteries of salutes. If you like noise in your fireworks, then you have to experience a mazcletá. I say "experience" and not simply "hear" because you are physically shaken. Shock waves of noise throttle your insides. A mazcletá is a bombardment of pyrotechnic sound, like a huge drum solo performed by angry gods. It will make your heart stop.

These displays of pyrotechnic virtuosity are presented in Valencia's main plaza each day at 2 p.m. by the pyrotechnic master who was in charge of the display the night before. A mazcletá lasts for six or seven minutes and is the main thrill for Valencianos - standing room only in the huge plaza. And those that cannot make it to the event listen to the thunderous rhythm on the radio! I even bought a compact disc of Mazcletás this year.

Valencia is wonderful to visit. Sweet oranges, exuberant meals, inspiring wines... In its largest event of the year, las Fallas, there is something for everybody. For fans of la pirotecnia, it is a must. Valencia in March is the Capital of the World - in fireworks.

*In Spain a fireworks display is known as a castillo. This should not be confused with the Mexican castillo, which is a tower of gerbs and fountains connected to a large vertical pole. The Spanish term castillo has its roots in the huge lancework backdrops, "machines", that were popular in Europe in the 18^th century. These were called fachadas, (the central, main face of a building). As fireworks displays progressively grew larger, and to distinguish these more impressive aerial displays, they were termed castillos (i.e., as four walls might make a house, several fachadas make a castle or castillo). CJ

From another issue of Fireworks Business:

The 17^th Symposium on Explosive and Pyrotechnics will be held in Philadelphia on April 27-29, 1999. The symposium is being sponsored by Franklin Applied Physics of Oaks, PA and IDL Industries of India and is expected to draw a number of explosive experts from around the world. There are five different technical sessions planned. Historically, these have been lively and informative.

Cost of the symposium is US$330 and includes a copy of the Proceeding book that will be mailed a few weeks later. Franklin Applied Physics is calling for papers to be presented. They need your abstract ASAP. For more information contact: