{"id":14967,"date":"2017-02-15T12:22:21","date_gmt":"2017-02-15T11:22:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.uchceu.es\/campus-life\/?p=14967"},"modified":"2020-07-22T12:29:20","modified_gmt":"2020-07-22T10:29:20","slug":"how-much-do-you-really-understand-about-valencian-people","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.uchceu.es\/campus-life\/en\/how-much-do-you-really-understand-about-valencian-people\/","title":{"rendered":"How much do you really understand about Valencian people?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"As a first-year international student in Valencia, I am going to spend no less than 5 years in this stunning city. If you know Malvarrosa beach, Bioparc, the typical <\/span>paella Valenciana<\/span><\/i> or the City of Arts and Sciences, you have reached Valencia from the outside; but every city has its beauty from things that only the locals know. Therefore, I definitely want to get a deeper knowledge about Valencia as well as the Valencian people and bring you some interesting facts you may have not heard before.<\/span><\/p>\n

The symbols of Valencia<\/h2>\n

An antique shopkeeper Pilar in Moncada told me about some symbols that represented Valencia. First of all, <\/span>Senyera Coronada<\/i><\/strong> is the name given to the Valencian flag: on the left the vertical line is blue, and the horizontal lines are red and yellow alternatively.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Another curiosity concerns football: some Valencians will not watch a football match if they do not see either\u00a0Valencia<\/strong>\u00a0CF<\/strong> or Levante UD shield<\/strong> on the TV screen. Both shields have a bat (<\/span>Rat Penat<\/i><\/strong>). The tales about it are diverse, but the most common one tells that during the reign of Jaume I, the Moors tried to assassinate the King making a foray into his camp at night. Apparently, they bothered a bat that flew by and entered the King’s tent waking him up and interrupting the mission. Hence, as a sign of gratitude, the bat is now portrayed on the Valencian shield, and similarly on the shields of the city\u2019s football teams.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Try
Try to find this in the city centre. Hint: It is close to the Valencian city hall.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A popular sport\u2026<\/h2>\n

Speaking of sports, it is just not football, basketball, or Formula 1 competition. I want to introduce you to la pilota Valenciana<\/i><\/strong>, or triquet,<\/strong>\u00a0a traditional game which an old man suggests me to try out when I have a conversation with him about how to get through a boring Sunday.<\/span><\/p>\n

Before the sport was played only by men; and imagine playing tennis without the racket, with a smaller ball, and the street as your field. There are from one to three men on each team. The system of counting point is similar to tennis: 15, 30, VAL, JOC. The ball (<\/strong><\/span>la baqueta<\/i><\/strong>)<\/strong> is made of animal skin, and as it is handmade the price is really high. In addition, when thrown the ball has a\u00a0great velocity so the \u201c<\/span>piloters<\/i><\/strong>\u201d have to put protective materials on their hands an hour before the game starts. Nowadays you can try this game at the historic <\/span>Triquet of Pelayo<\/span><\/a>. Another place very close to our university is The City of Pilota in Moncada.<\/span><\/p>\n