Sunday, the 8th of March, at 10:00, in Plaza del Carmen, Carmen district, will take place the “Cant de l’Estoreta Velleta” contest.
What is about “Cant de l’Estoreta Velleta”
The contest is a tradition that dates back to the ‘60s, when fallers, members of Falla Plaza del Árbol, decided to retrace some their childhood moments. It was the beginning of spring when carpenters and other locals were cleaning their houses, throwing away old things into the streets, that they would burn, come the day of the patron of the guild, Saint Joseph.
Children were walking the streets, dragging an old carpet after them (“estoreta veletta” means “old carpet” in Valencian), in which they gathered the scraps and other things being thrown away. Their enjoyment came from stacking all the things together in order to burn them. To garner attention whilst walking the streets they sang a popular song, which in time became a faller anthem.
* Foto source: www.valenciablancoynegro.blogspot.com.es/ and valenciabonita.es
Its chorus is now well known: “¿Hi ha una estoreta velleta/per a la falla de Sant Josep,/del tio Pep…?” (Do you have some old stuff/For Saint Joseph’s falla/from uncle Pep…?).
In order for the event to be even more evocative of ancient Valencia, participants wear typical Valencian costumes from the 19th and 20th centuries.
Beginning with 1962 the Cant de l’Estoreta Velleta contest takes place annually, in Plaza del Carmen. Participants are children that represent different moments in the social life of late 19th and early 20th centuries Valencia.
Useful information
What: “Cant de l’Estoreta Velleta” contest for children
When: Sunday, the 8th of March, at 10:00
Where: Plaza del Carmen
Access: Free to anyone.
The event will be presided over by the Fallera Mayor Infantil 2020 and her Court of Honour.
Traffic warning: Between 08:00 and 15:00 traffic will be diverted in the area of the Blanquerías, Padre Huérfanos streets and the Serranos Towers.
How to reach Plaza del Carmen
– EMT buses, lines 5, 28, 95 (Torres dels Serrans – Comte de Trénor stop)
– By walking, passing by Ponte del Fusta, from the EMT bus stop, lines 6, 16, 26, 28, 79, 94, 95 (Cronista Rivelles – Santa Amàlia stop)
– By walking, from Plaza de la Reina, reachable by EMT bus lines 4, 8, 9, 11, 16, 28, 70. More info about getting around the city by EMT bus here
– With Valenbisi, the closest stop being at the Serranos Towers. Find a map of the Valenbisi stops here
If you had read this articles, maybe you will be interested in similars:
– Las Fallas 2020. The complete programme of the festivities
– Las Fallas 2020. Complete programme of the mascletá and firework shows
* Sources: fallaplazadelarbol.es, valenciabonita
* The articles foto are from my personal archive, from 2017 the previuos years contest.