Archbishopric Unifies Virgin's Procession for Fallas

Fallas commissions will now parade behind the titular Processional Cross, eliminating previous distinctions in status.

Generic image of a festive procession in a Valencian street, with blurred crowd and warm lights.
IA

Generic image of a festive procession in a Valencian street, with blurred crowd and warm lights.

The Archbishopric of Valencia has announced a restructuring of the Procession of the Virgen de los Desamparados during the Fallas festivities, integrating Fallas commissions into a single group behind the titular Processional Cross.

This decision puts an end to the distinction that generated complaints from the commissions, who felt discriminated against by parading with a different cross than the official one. The councilor for Fallas, a municipal spokesperson, highlighted that this measure eliminates the perception of a first and second division procession.

"There will no longer be a first and second division Procession."

a municipal spokesperson · Fallas Councilor
Previously, the honor groups of the Fallas commissions opened the procession, parading in sector order. However, they did so behind a cross that was not the titular one, which caused discomfort as it was considered that the commissions formed a separate, lower-level procession, not worthy of parading under the same canopy as the other groups.
The new organization also implies that the senior Falleras of Valencia and their courts of honor will be located in the authorities' area of the procession. They will parade alongside the feast of Saint Vincent Ferrer, instead of closing the Fallas section outside the official cross, as was the case until now. This integration has been a repeated request to the ecclesiastical authorities, which has finally been accepted.