Saúnc

The falles are prepared every year by Saúnc villagers. The part to be burnt is made out of bark, which is very carefully peeled off birch trees so that trees are not damaged and the bark can grow back. This process is carried out a few days in advance so that the bark can dry out completely and burn well on Saint John’s Eve. The pieces of bark are folded and slid down a groove cut into the narrow end of the hazelwood handles, then bound by wires at the top and at the bottom. When the sun falls, a bonfire is lit in the Church Square by the last man in the village to be married.

The participants, from the youngest to the most elderly, bear the falles through the town to an esplanade by the canyon, where the fallaires swing the falles in circles above their heads, scattering small pieces of birch bark, like a rain of fire. The sound of the balls of fire spinning in the air makes a magical and unforgettable spectacle. Young children are taught to whirl the falles by parents, uncles, aunts, and grandparents, so that when they reach adolescence, they are able to do it alone. Historically, the whirling of the falles was done only by the youngest, but today it has spread to all ages. There are currently about sixty fallaires.

More information : https://www.benasque.com/es/todo-valle-de-benasque/fallas-de-sahun
http://www.sahun.es/
http://fallasdelpirineo.com
Instagram : #fallassahún
Village Council : +34 974551334

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

Photos and videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zHA3jqKbPo&ab_channel=Aragonenabierto

Sahún falles, 2014. Photograph: Ayuntamiento de Sahún

Falles. Photograph: Ayuntamiento de Sahún

Burning of the falles. Sahún 2013. Photograph: Ayuntamiento de Sahún

Burning of the falles. Sahún., 2009. Photograph: Ayuntamiento de Sahún