San Chuan de Plan / San Juan de Plan

All the approximately 150 inhabitants of this village go up to place known as the Planeta de la Falla near the bordes de San Mamés (1,300 m.). The whole village takes part, as the location can be reached by road, although not all will carry torches. The chistabins, as villagers are known, spend a festive day around the fire, cooking their food on the embers, and drinking until it begins to get dark.

Each person then collects a torch (called tieta in the local tongue) that they carry down to San Chuan. Not necessarily in single file, they follow an old bridle path that crosses the road a couple of times. Once they reach the Cinqueta River, others join in and there are races to the village cemetery, with groups organized by gender and age.  In each case, the first person to arrive with their torch still lit is the winner. The bonfire that is created from the falles in San Chuan de Plan is known as la falleta. A number of different kinds of prizes are awarded, although in the past, the prize was a pair of espadrilles. It is said that the mayor used to keep a register, and that one person from each house had to be present. If not, they had to pay for the wine.

San Chuan de Plan (en aragonais)
More information : https://www.turismosobrarbe.com/patrimonio.php?niv=3&cla=_3BV0W3W3E&cla2=_3BV0W4SSP&cla3=&tip=2&idi=1
https://www.sanjuandeplan.es
http://fallasdelpirineo.com
Email : sanjuandeplan@sanjuandeplan.es
Village Council : +34 974 50 62 94

To find out more
Serrano, R.; Farré, X. (2017) Las fallas del Pirineo aragonés. Zaragoza: Prames.
Farré Sahún, X.; Ricart, S. (2016) Foc al faro. La fiesta de las fallas en el Pirineo. Zaragoza: Prames

Photos and videos

La Falleta y el Diya d’a Cultura Chistabina (aragonese)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SjdXpv7-po&t=62s&ab_channel=charrandotb

Falles in San Chuan de Plan. Photograph: Ayuntamiento de San Juan de Plan

Falles in San Chuan de Plan. Photograph: Ayuntamiento de San Juan de Plan