In Valencia we have our own Valentine’s Day, and here, the day of lovers is not in February, but on October 9, St. Donis Day, which also coincides with the Day of the Comunitat Valenciana.
It is one of the sweetest traditional celebrations and, as custom dictates, lovers give each other sweets wrapped in a mocador, a handkerchief, to show their love.
Every year, around this time, the San Donis Contest is held, organized by the Guild of Bakers and Confectioners of Valencia, supported by the Diputación de Valencia, where the best mocadorà of Valencia is chosen .
The contest has more than 40 years of history and this time, the winning pastry shop of the San Donis 2024 Contest has been Aixa, located in the municipality of Puçol.
This is the 14th time that the bakery has won the contest, and this year it has done so by presenting a mocaorà dedicated to Marina García Arribas, Fallera Mayor Infantil de Valencia 2024. In the tronaor they wanted to reproduce the espolín that she wore the day she was elected.
Origin of the tradition
The tradition of the mocaorà began at the time of the Nueva Planta Decrees, after the War of Succession. In those times, Valencians were forbidden to celebrate the 9th of October and the entrance of Jaume I to Valencia with the launching of firecrackers and rockets.
But as there is no law without a catch, the people of Valencia began to give each other marzipan sweets in the shape of firecrackers. Later, fruit and vegetable figures were added, also made of the same paste.
300 years later, the Valencians have continued without losing the tradition and San Dionisio has become the patron saint of lovers.
We leave you all the winners of the San Donís 2024 Contest so you can celebrate in the sweetest way the love and the Day of the Valencian Community.
Best Mocadorà 2024
1st Prize: Pastelería Aixa
Best Shop Window 2024
1st Prize: David Esteve Pastry Shop
Best Innovation 2024
1st Prize: Pastry Pana David
Best Commercial Piece 2024
1st Prize: Pastry Llopis