Andorra marks 10th anniversary of Falles of the Pyrenees UNESCO inscription

The fallaire community of Andorra marked the tenth anniversary of the Falles of the Pyrenees’ inscription on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity with a weekend of events in Andorra la Vella and Escaldes‑Engordany on 29–30 November 2025. The inscription was confirmed on 1 December 2015 at the Intergovernmental Committee meeting in Namibia.

Saturday’s programme opened with a communal breakfast and a workshop on Carrer dels Veedors in Escaldes‑Engordany to build falles — the wooden, metal and cardboard structures that are swung and burned — which were to be used in the collective cremada the following evening. In the afternoon a public colloquium at La Llacuna, moderated by journalist Noemí Rodríguez, brought together people involved in the candidature and safeguarding of the tradition. Anthropologist Mireia Guil delivered a keynote on UNESCO’s approach to intangible heritage, and short talks followed from Joan Reguant, Xavier Pedrals, Marc Ballesté, Marc Medeiros, Jean‑Michel Rascagneres, Xabier Burgos and Albert Roig.

Speakers recounted the lengthy process behind the UNESCO nomination. Joan Reguant, who presented the candidature, said early advice was to pursue a transnational application with Spain and France because similar solstice fire traditions exist in neighbouring territories. Reguant and others said support from then‑cònsol major Rosa Ferrer was decisive. The candidature, submitted in 2014, was ultimately registered under the broader title “Les festes del foc de solstici d’estiu” after objections from other Spanish traditions, notably the Valencian Falles.

Sunday’s events at Plaça Guillemó were hosted by Ivan Caro and opened with performances by the country’s esbarts — Esbart Valls del Nord, Esbart Dansaire d’Andorra la Vella and Esbart Laurèdia — accompanied by Trio Daura and the Cobla Tres Quartans Bramasacs. The dance groups presented pieces linked to their parishes’ cremada traditions, including performances associated with Ordino such as the Fallaires d’Ordino and the Dansa del Mai, a rendition of the Legend of Saint John, and the premiere of the Ball pla del Puial alongside the Xotis Pepa.

Institutional speeches were delivered by Olalla Losada, cònsol menor of Andorra la Vella; Ferran Mata, fallaire major of the Valls d’Andorra; and head of government Xavier Espot. The Orfeó Andorrà provided a musical interlude. Government and cultural officials in attendance included the minister of Culture and the director of the department of Cultural Heritage, and several cònsols; participants paid tribute to Rosa Ferrer for her role in securing UNESCO recognition.

As dusk fell the young fallaires — the fallaires de llum — paraded through the square, performing the signature rotations of the burning staffs. The evening culminated in a collective cremada of falles representing all parishes, an image organisers described as a testament to the community’s unity and resilience. The programme closed with a concert by Cor Rock d’Encamp.

Organisers and participants emphasised that the anniversary was both a celebration and a recommitment to safeguarding the custom. They underlined efforts to transmit skills and commitment to new generations through workshops, demonstrations and community activities.

Speakers also noted the tradition’s growth since inscription. In 2015 falles were burned in Sant Julià de Lòria, Andorra la Vella and Escaldes‑Engordany; Encamp resumed the practice in 2017 after a lapse; Ordino returned in 2018 after more than 50 years; Canillo reinstated falles in 2021 and La Massana in 2022. By 2025, organisers said, all seven parishes had taken part, completing what they described as a national circle of participation.

The weekend combined ritual, performance and communal gatherings — from shared meals and hot soup to dance and fire — intended both to honour the past decade of recognition and to reinforce the networks and teaching needed to keep the falles alive.