The festival began at the hermitage of Sant Quirc, where the 'fallaires' gathered before lighting the beacons and torches as darkness fell. After a prayer remembering deceased 'fallaires', a heartfelt annual tribute, they began their descent towards the village. This event occurs ten years after UNESCO declared the Pyrenean 'falles' Intangible Cultural Heritage in December 2015, a recognition that includes 63 villages across Catalonia, Aragon, France, and Andorra, with 17 being Catalan.
Thanks to this declaration, the number of participating villages has approached one hundred, attracting a considerable number of visitors each year. The approximately one-kilometer route from Sant Quirc to Durro allows spectators to follow the descent illuminated by the flames of the torches. Upon reaching the village, the 'fallaires' run through the streets before throwing their torches into the large central bonfire.
The 'falles' season is extending each year with the addition of new villages. This Friday it began in Durro and will conclude on July 25th in Pla de l'Ermita, also in L'Alta Ribagorça. Each locality maintains its own unique tradition, both in the route and the type of torches. Those from Durro are characterized as a type of torch made from pine wood and tow at the top, secured with a hazel or ash pole.
The fire festival will continue in other Pyrenean locations soon, with celebrations scheduled for Saturday in Sort and Wednesday in La Pobla de Segur.
