The lack of agreement and the public debate over how the Flower Offering to the Virgin of the Forsaken should be organized are increasingly reminiscent of *The Neverending Story*, even if only in name.
The increase in the number of registered falleros and the negative experience of recent years, during which the event has dragged on until the wee hours of the morning, are the reasons behind this debate among institutions, committees, and residents. As a possible solution, the Fallas Central Board and the Valencia City Council proposed extending the Ofrenda to three days instead of two.
A solution that seemed complicated from the start for two reasons: March 16 is a school day in Valencia, and the change would require reorganizing a large part of the Fallas week’s events. The first problem was partially resolved when the Regional Ministry of Education declared March 16 a holiday, but the controversy over adjusting the event schedule remains heated.
Yesterday, July 21, the assembly of presidents took place to decide the future of the 2027 Fallas, and the majority of the Fallas committees voted in favor of a three-day Ofrenda. However, they fell short of the majority needed to approve the change by a margin of just 15 votes. In other words, even though more than 62% of Fallas participants favored extending the event, the Ofrenda will continue to last two days: March 17 and 18.
How the 2027 Ofrenda Will Be Organized
According to the Fallera Central Board’s projections, the Offering could end at 4 a.m. on both days, and they insist that a solution to this problem must be found.
For the moment, that solution seems far off, and although all kinds of proposals were heard yesterday—ranging from canceling the mascletàs on the 17th and 18th to allow for the parade to barring commissions that do not belong to the city’s municipal boundaries—the truth is that none seem to convince the authorities, falleros, or security personnel. City officials assure that they will continue to seek a consensus-based solution as soon as possible.
