Escaldes-Engordany

A unique characteristic of the Andorra falles is that participants swing balls of fire around in circles, creating a circle of fire. This was originally a game for children, who competed with each other to see whose ball would last the longest, but since the revival of the festival, it has been adopted by adults, while children whirl balls of light of changing colors. The Andorra falla is made from a long pole of boxwood covered by pieces of birch bark. Although this traditional birch falla is maintained for very specific occasions during the celebration, the growth of the falla communities has led to the use of more sustainable materials. For this reason, all falla groups now order materials from the Paper Mill Museum in Capellades, a village in neighboring Catalonia. Another characteristic of the falles of Les Escaldes-Engordany is the use of black capes. On June 23, the Canigó flame is brought to the Casa de la Vall d’Andorra. It is then taken by the “pubillatge” (young women) and the “trabucaires” (ceremonial soldiers) to Escaldes-Engordany, who light the falles and the bonfire. At 11 p.m., the falles are carried along a route that starts in Plaça Santa Anna and runs along Av. Carlemany, Passatge de l’Arnaldeta de Caboet and Av. de les Nacions Unides. Before the bonfire is set alight, there are traditional dances. This is followed by Coca pastries and hot chocolate for those attending. The festival is organized by the Associació de Fallaires d’Escaldes, which is part of the Taula nacional de falles de les Valls d’Andorra, which was created in 2017 to bring together the different groups and to keep the festival alive.

Organized by : Fallaires d’Escaldes
More information : https://fallesandorra.com
Facebook : https://m.facebook.com/fallesandorra/
Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/fallesandorra/
Twitter : https://twitter.com/fallesandorra
Phone for info : +376 890 991

To find out more :
Roig, A. (2018). Roda el foc. 30 anys de falles a Andorra la Vella. Andorra-Lleida: Pagès editors.
Miró, C. (2008). “Les falles d’Andorra, un referent folklòric perdut i recuperat”, Ex-Libris 12, Biblioteca Nacional.
Farré, X. (2012). “La Flama del Canigó i les Cremades de Falles d’Andorra. Les falles pirinenques que són diferents de totes les altres”, Revista d’Etnologia de Catalunya, nº38, 218-220.
Farré Sahún, X.; Ricart, S. (2016) Foc al faro. La fiesta de las fallas en el Pirineo. Zaragoza: Prames

Photos and videos

Whirling fireballs. Lecture by Albert Roig.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jq0xkhbLuE&t=2s

Falles in Escaldes-Engordany. Photograph: Fallaires d’Escaldes-Engordany

Falles in Escaldes-Engordany. Photograph: Fallaires d’Escaldes-Engordany