falleros

Falleros are members of the comisiones falleras, neighborhood associations that organize Las Fallas, the traditional festival held every March in Valencia, Spain, and its metropolitan area. The term fallero (plural falleros) is used for male participants, while fallera (plural falleras) refers to female participants; the groups are commonly referred to as falleros y falleras.

Each commission is responsible for planning and funding its own falla, a large sculptural work crafted from wood and papier-mâché that is displayed on the streets of its district. The commissions also manage social events, fund-raising, and logistics for the festival, including the assembly of the falla during a stage known as la plantà and the burning of the monuments in la cremà at the end of the celebration. The festival includes daily fireworks, parades, and cultural activities, often centered on the streets around the fallas.

Participants typically wear traditional Valencian dress during official events: women wear the traje de fallera and men wear the traje de fallero. The commissions are led by a president (often called the fallero mayor) and may appoint other officers; the broader festival also features ceremonial roles such as the Fallera Mayor and the Corte de Honor at the city level.

Las Fallas is a major cultural event in Valencia and the Valencian Community, attracting thousands of visitors each year. The celebration is known for its artistry, pageantry, and the ritual destruction of the fallas, which symbolizes renewal and community coming together. Las Fallas has been recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.