Every year, Valencia celebrates one of its most symbolic dates: October 9th in Valencia. It is a holiday with two faces-both civic and romantic. On the one hand, it commemorates the conquest of the city by King James I in 1238 and the birth of the Valencian identity. On the other, it has become known as the local «Valentine’s Day,» thanks to a unique tradition involving sweets and scarves.
The day brings together history, politics, folklore, fireworks, and confectionery in a way that no other Spanish holiday does. To understand why it is so important, we need to look at its origins, traditions, and the customs that continue to shape how Valencians celebrate it today.
The importance of October 9th in Valencia
On October 9th, 1238, King James I of Aragon entered the city of Valencia after a long siege. The Muslim king Zayyan surrendered, and the Christian monarch signed the capitulation. With this, the Kingdom of Valencia was founded within the Crown of Aragon. It soon developed its own legal code, known as the Furs, its own currency, and a political identity distinct from neighboring territories.
The importance of the conquest was recognized early on. By the 14th century, the anniversary was marked with civic and religious ceremonies. These early commemorations underlined the symbolic role of the conquest as a moment of foundation.
During the modern era, October 9th gained institutional weight. Civic processions and military parades gave the date an official presence. Yet, when King Philip V abolished the Furs in 1707 after the War of Spanish Succession, the day also became a space for cultural resistance. Remembering October 9th meant remembering freedoms that had been lost.
In the 20th century, especially during Spain’s transition to democracy, October 9th regained public importance. In 1976, Valencians celebrated it as a day of regional identity, and in 1982 the new Statute of Autonomy made it the official Day of the Valencian Community. Today, the holiday continues to embody a mix of memory, pride, and identity, linking medieval history with modern autonomy.
What’s going on this October 9th in Valencia
October 9th in Valencia is marked by ceremonies that blend civic pride, history, and spectacle. The most symbolic act is the Civic Procession of the Senyera, when the city’s flag is lowered from the Town Hall and carried through the streets without bowing to any authority. The day also includes religious tributes, the thunderous mascletà, and the Moors and Christians parade, which adds a theatrical reenactment of the Reconquista. Fireworks and concerts complete a program that balances solemnity with celebration
Itinerary – Thursday, October 9, 2025
- 12:00: Civic Procession of the Senyera. The route starts from the city hall (Ayuntamiento)
- After the Civic Procession: Mascletà in Plaza del Ayuntamiento at the end of the procession (time depends on when the march finishes).
- 16:30 – 17:00: Bajada de Gloria for the Moors and Christians parade, from Plaza del Ayuntamiento to La Glorieta.
- 17:00 – 22:00: Moors and Christians parade starting form La Glorieta and ending at Marqués de Sotelo.
- 19:00: Concert by the Orquesta de Valencia at Palau de les Arts.
October 9th in Valencia is also the Lovers’ day
The romantic side of October 9th in Valencia is inseparable from Sant Donís (Saint Dionysius), a 3rd-century martyr whose feast day coincides with the city’s historic anniversary. Over time, he came to be seen as the patron saint of Valencian lovers, giving the holiday a second identity alongside its civic meaning.
Central to this tradition is the Mocadorà. On this day, couples exchange a symbolic gift: a silk or cotton scarf (mocador) tied around small marzipan sweets shaped like fruits, vegetables, and firecrackers. The fruits recall the fertility of Valencia’s huerta, while the firecracker shapes-piuletes and tronadors-echo the 18th-century ban on pólvora, when pastry chefs humorously turned fireworks into sweets.
This gift is more than a romantic gesture. For Valencians, it is an act of cultural memory and affection: a way to honor both their history and their relationships. Just as Catalans give books and roses on Sant Jordi, Valencians give the Mocadorà on Sant Donís. Over time, couples often collect the scarves, turning them into keepsakes of their shared story.
Walking through Valencia on October 9th, one sees flags flying from balconies, bakeries overflowing with sweets, and couples carrying the telltale scarves of Sant Donís. It is a holiday that reflects pride, memory, and love-a celebration where history and daily life merge into a festival of community.
For anyone curious about Valencian culture, there is no better time to experience it than October 9th. It is a day when the city opens itself fully, celebrating both its history and its present, and reminding everyone-locals and visitors alike-of what makes Valencia unique.
