-'My name is Nerea López Maestre and we come from Valencia'.
-'I am Carmen Martín Carbonell and we are the falleras of Valencia.'
Nerea and Carmen followed Pope Francis' General Audience from a privileged spot.
And they would have never imagined that the Pope had recognized them.
-'Las Fallas!'
-'Yes, las Fallas!'
These two representatives of their city's festival, known as las Fallas, told the Pope what it consists of.
-'Here is the explanation of our festivities that are made in homage to St. Joseph, and this book explains everything about our festival.'
-'We've brought you a photograph of the image of our patroness, Our Lady of the Forsaken.'
-'The women who particiapte in the festival are known as falleras, and the Pope was curious about their dresses.'
-'Now you have to show the models, so if you'll stand for a moment to show how the falleras are dressed.'
-'How nice!'
Before leaving he jokingly gave them some advice.
-'Don't sit down because they pulled away the chairs...Go ahead!'
The falleras wear traditional dresses from the 18th century. They say they are a bit tough to wear, but that they've gotten used to them.
NEREA LÓPEZ MAESTRE
Fallera from Valencia (Spain)
'We wear shawls, adorned with jewelry, bracelets, necklaces. And our hair with the buns and the back bun.'
CARMEN MARTÍN CARBONELL
Fallera from Valencia (Spain)
'How we are dressed right now is the most elegant we can be.'
They are the ambassadors of the 'Fallas of Valencia,' a festival celebrated in Spain around March 19, during which spectacular cardboard sculptures are burned.
CARMEN MARTÍN CARBONELL
Fallera from Valencia (Spain)
'We came here specifically to visit the Vatican, and we have been very lucky to have an audience with the Pope. And it was impressive, we feel super excited and privileged to have been able to share a few seconds with him.'
These two falleras expressed their gratitude to the newspaper Levante-EMV, which organized their visit to Rome to prepare the special edition of the next Fallas.
Now, they return home proud to have represented the most significant tradition of their homeland.
BAJ
TR: JM
