A town full of life
Benifallet is a town with a lot of life in the streets. It is strange to walk there and not find anyone, but the activity increases on weekends and in the summer, when local entities and associations organize more events. There is no month of the year in which some festive event is not held that seeks to bring the town together and have a good time. “Here you are always partying!”_ many people from neighboring municipalities tell us! And the fact is that summer weekends always have some party on the agenda; and in the winter months, the pace slows down, but it does not stop. We are street people, people who laugh, dance, be together and celebrate life and this is seen in the local agenda that you can consult through social networks.
The Festival of the Caves, on the first day of May, has been celebrated since the Benifallet Caves were opened to the public and each year it gains in duration and the presence of younger people who live and feel the festival as their own, which guarantees its continuity. The Sant Joan's Eve dinner that we celebrate on the Passeig del Riu is also very well received by the public, due to the party and the coolness it creates. Speaking of coolness, it is difficult to overlook one of the best summer traditions that are maintained in the towns: the nights in the fresh air. One might think that, as air conditioning units have been arriving in all homes, the following of this tradition has been decreasing, but the truth is that the only thing that prevents going out in the fresh air is the unbearable heat at unusual times of the night.
Major Festival
Benifallet dresses up every September to celebrate its Festa Major, an event that combines tradition, culture and fun. During the Festa Major, the streets of Benifallet come alive with a wide variety of activities for all ages. From competitions and sports competitions to musical performances and street shows, the program is wide and diverse. One of the most anticipated activities is the charangada, where groups tour the town accompanied by the music of the charanga, creating a festive and vibrant atmosphere. One of the most outstanding moments of the Festa Major is, without a doubt, the dance of the Jota de Benifallet. This traditional dance, deeply rooted in local culture, is a symbol of identity for the people of Benifallet. The Jota, with its energetic steps and cheerful rhythm, is danced by young and old, who gather in the town square to show their pride and cultural heritage. The dancers, dressed in traditional costumes, dance to the sound of live music, performed by a xaranga that is located in the middle of the square. The Jota de Benifallet is not only an artistic expression, but also an opportunity for the community to come together and strengthen social ties. Whether you are an expert dancer or if you just want to watch and enjoy the show, the Jota will make you feel part of this centuries-old tradition. The Festa Major de Benifallet is a unique experience that combines history, tradition and celebration in a privileged natural setting. It is a perfect opportunity to discover the cultural wealth of our town and to participate in a celebration that endures strongly from generation to generation. If you are looking for an authentic and unforgettable experience, do not hesitate to visit Benifallet during its festa major and let yourself be captivated by the festive spirit and hospitality of its inhabitants.
The Dance Boss
This quote from Joan Amades in Costumari Català about the Jota de Benifallet tells us a lot about the typical Cap de Dansa of our Festa Major: it is a dance of fadrins and fadrinas that is danced on the first day of Festa Major and only the pubillas and fadrins who have been invited can dance. The Cap de Dansa, made up of the pubillas and the heirs and the corresponding couples, wear traditional clothing and long Manila shawls with beautiful embroidery, inherited from mothers to daughters. The rest of the couples wear festive clothes without any other requirements except for the women, who also wear Manila shawls, the longer and more colorful the better.
A fact to highlight is that Benifallet is one of the towns in Terres de l’Ebre where the jota ballada is most alive and there has been no danger of it being lost like in other towns in Ebre. Even on September 9, 1938, already in the Civil War, some brave people dared to dance it in the town square, despite the risk involved. And also during the 2020 festivities, in full confinement due to the Covid19 pandemic, the City Council invited everyone to dance it in their homes, terraces or balconies and edited a beautiful video of “the confined jota” that can be found on the City Council’s networks.
Seeing the square packed on Children’s Dance Day or Charangada Night makes us feel very proud of our town and our jota.
The Confined Jota (2020)
Do you want to know how to dance?
The Inventory of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Terres de l’Ebre (IPCITE) is a project for the identification, research, dissemination and promotion of the elements of the intangible cultural heritage that are manifested in Terres de l’Ebre.
In 2023, a request was made for it to be considered an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, hence the video they recorded during the Benifallet festival.
Benifallet Tourism Office
Av. Lluís Companys, 6 – Benifallet
SCHEDULE
- LOW SEASON | From Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 2 pm.
- MIDDLE SEASON (Easter until Saint John) | From Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 2 pm. and weekends and holidays, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- HIGH SEASON (June – September) | From Monday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.