Festivals and gastronomy (Chella)

Festivals

Patron Saint Festivities. The town celebrates its patron saint festivities in honor of San Blas on February 2, 3, and 4. The first day of the festivities includes a procession in honor of San Fumat. This procession starts in the early morning after the street party and everyone has to go dressed up and with a ‘caliqueño’ (local cigar).

Cultural Week Festivities. These are held the first week of August and include paella contests, musical and theatrical performances, storytelling, DJ gatherings, sports championships, drawing contests, etc.

Moors and Christians Festivities. The weekend after Cultural Week, the Moors and Christians events take place with a dinner-gathering of troupes on Friday night and parades through the town from place to place, a fake entrance on Saturday, and the official entrance on Sunday.

Fallas. There is a ‘falla’ in the town called ‘Falla No – Ni – Na,’ one of the most deeply rooted festivals in the town. It was founded in the summer of 1982 and erected its first ‘falla’ in March 1983. The celebrations take place from March 15 to 19.

Gastronomy

Specializing in ‘arroz al horno’ (oven-baked rice) and ‘arroz caldós’ (brothy rice), ‘casolica de pencas,’ ‘puchero,’ and ‘gazpacho manchego.’ Among the sweets, the highlights are: ‘torticas’ made of peanuts and oil for San Blas, ‘bizcochás,’ ‘rollicos de anís,’ ‘pastissets de moniato,’ ‘pastissets de rosillas,’ ‘torta en llanda,’ ‘almendrones,’ ‘rossegones,’ and ‘toñas’ and ‘hogassas’ are made for All Saints’ Day.