Ninot Indulta 2010, SJ-5

So, after a week of visiting with the ninots from the "Exposici�n del Ninot" it's time to find out which two ninots will join the ranks of the "Ninot Indultat", or the Forgiven Ninots. Who will join last year's Ninot Indultat in the Museo de Hogueras? Yes, the Hogueras have their own Museum! It's small, just a series of rooms in the "Casa de la Festa", but it's where the memories of past Hogueras live on through photos (dating back to the beginning of the 20th century) and ninots.

entrance to the Museo de Hogueras

keep reading!

Ninots Categoria especial, SJ-6

Final Ninots today! :o)

These belong to the Hogueras de Categor�a Especial, a.k.a. the big money spenders (over 50'000�), the ones that usually tower over the other Hogueras and are among the first to burn.

Special stork delivery anyone?

Ninot Hoguera Hern�n Cort�s. Artista: Jes�s Grao Garrido

An homage to one of my favourite authors growing up: Jules Verne!

Ninot Hoguera Mercado Central. Artista: Daniel Jim�nez Zafrilla

Maternity:

Ninot Hoguera Gran V�a La Cer�mica. Artista: Hermanos G�mez Fonseca

I see a happy mother, but don't understand the happy/sad carnival masks...

This one's entitled "Soberbia" and mentions all the things the Comunidad Valenciana is proud of (and attract tourists such as spots in Valencia, Benidorm -ugh!- etc.):

Ninot Hoguera Pol�gono de San Blas. Artista: Carlos Sim�n Rond�n Espinosa

I think this is my favourite in this group, Spanish President Zapatero as a magician with wonderful "spells" to end the Crisis! (ironic of course, referring to all his promises of solutions)

Ninot Hoguera S�neca-Autobuses. Artista: Pedreo Santaeulalia

The one sign you can read here translates as "Abracadabra I'm as (mad as) a goat!" :p

Underwater love: a mermaid and a triton.

Ninot Hoguera Florida Portazgo. Artista: Vicente Mart�nez Aparici

In the mermaid's hand a flame, the magic that illuminates the Hogueras:

As for this lady:

Ninot Hoguera Altozano. Artista Francisco Jos� Espl� T�rraga

I kind of think she's an anthropomorphised flame, sad at burning out perhaps? In any case the flame/shield is beautifully painted!

And last but not least: Gemini here represented as Day and Night (a popular recurring theme I'm noticing!).

Ninot Hoguera San Blas Alto. Artista Francisco L�pez Albert

The Ninots infantiles were actually the first ones I saw as I walked into the exhibit and was immediatly enchanted with this little pair of a Bellea and her companion with all those little pigeons. There must be something special about it (or the material used) 'cause it was under a glass case (there were a few others)! Made it difficult to get a good picture:

Ninot H.Infantil Rabasa Pol�gono Industrial. Artista: Salvador Fenoll Peris

This little mermaid seems to be in good company!

Artista H.Infantil Hern�n Cort�s. Artista: Francisco Javier Fern�ndez Ruiz

And this little kiddie is off on a romer�a (a walk to a monastery/church on a religious day) to the Santa Faz (event here in Alicante held 10 days after Easter):

Ninot H.Infantil Altozano. Artista: Sergio Amar Medina

Have you had a chance to admire the dresses of the Bellesas? This little girl appears to be getting fitted for one:

Ninot H.Infantil Calder�n de la Barca Pz. Espa�a. Artista: Carlos Sampedro Moreno

And speaking of dresses and Bellesas:

They were admiring the ninots, but particularly looking for "theirs" (and happy when i told them it got my vote to be spared).

an Alicante wedding, with mermaids again! 

Ninot H.Infantil San Blai La Torreta. Artista: Jos� Gallego Gallego

One of my friends is getting married in a month... I wonder if it will be anything like that? ;o)

So now you've seen them all! Well, all the ones I got decent enough photographs of. :p And amongst them are those that will be spared from the flames (for a moment I was worried I'd missed them!). So how about you tell me which ones you'd vote for (one adult and one infantil) and tomorrow we'll see how your choice compares to Alicantes?

My votes are for the little Boda Alicantina above in the ninot infantil category, and the 3rd category seashell seahorse in the "adult" category (with the 5th category "dead mermaid" and the "magician president" above as close seconds, was a tough choice!)

Ninots 1a Categoria, SJ-7

Only two categories of Ninots to go until you get to find out who will spared from the flames! Today: First Category, and they're quite a bit more elaborate than most of the previous ones...

I found this first one to be slightly creepy, but then the painter Francisco Goya and many of his works are creepy! 

Ninot Hoguera Calvo Sotelo. Artista: Francisco Jos� Santonja Peni

Now this one has a very different style:

Ninot Hoguera Hoguera Carolinas. Artista: Federico Ferrer Garc�a

A very elegant sea goddess, and the critters with her are beautiful! I love these two:

Here's the mayor of Alicante again (blond), dressed in greenery and flowers (I think this is going to be a recurring motif for her throughout the Hogueras). I don't know who the other two are...

Ninot Hoguera Diputaci�n-Renfe. Artista: Paco Juan Navarro

The ninots infantiles are as cute as ever!

The Hunchback of Notredame anyone?

Ninot H.Infantil Diputaci�n-Renfe. Artista: Vicente Almela Caball�

This Bellea is crying over a ninot about to be put to the flames:

Ninot H.Infantil Los �ngeles. Artista: Francisco Gisbert Pic�

I'm going to have go visit this little shepherd when he's set up, he'll be only a few blocks from my house!

Ninot H.Infantil Avenida Costablanca Entreplayas. Artista: Juan M. Castelblanqu� P�rez

Father Time again, in the form of the god Kronos:

Ninot H.Infantil Baver - Els Antigons. Artista: allos y Sanabria

FIGS!!!

yummm... have to wait another month or two until they're ripe enough to eat. ;o)

Tomorrow the "top dogs", the Ninots from the Hogueras de Categor�a Especial.

Ninots 2a Categoria, SJ-8

And so the countdown continues. Just a week away from the fires of San Juan, here are the candidate ninots from the 2nd Category Hogueras!

This first one is dedicated to a people's historical memory. The card says a "A People without memory is a source of conflict. Let us fight to preserve our history by becoming "Living Alicante"" (it's hard to translate!)

Ninot Hoguera Gran Via-Garbinet. Artista Latorre y Sanz

This drummer looks a lot happier than his companion dol�ainer... I wonder if he has some secret he's not sharing with him?

Ninot Hoguera T�mbola. Artista: Francisco Roca Chorques

They've even got their own tweety birds joining in! ;o)

Four seasons in one ninot:

Ninot Hoguera Parque de las Avenidas. Artista Francisco L�pez Albert

Spring to Summer...

... to Autumn to Winter.

This one's an actual fountain! (I wonder how well that will burn, lol!): 

Ninot Hoguera Plaza de Gabriel Mir�. Artista: Manuel Garc�a Ramirez

It's a maquette of a fountain dedicated to the local writer Gabriel Miro whose 80th anniversary (death) is this year and with this ninot they wanted to bring the past into the present.

For the kiddies I've chosen two that speak to the scientist in me!

An astronomer:

Ninot H.Infantil Mercado Central. Artista: Roberto Chorro Torregrosa

and a young entomologist!

Ninot H.Infantil Florida Sur. Artista Vicent Tornador Navarro

He looks like he's having more fun with his bugs than I did when I had to collect mine in Uni... :p

Only 2 more categories to go! First and "Special". And then you'll learn who gets saved from the flames this year! ;o)

Ninots 3a categoria SJ-9

We're about halfway through with the candidates for the Ninot Indultat! Today: 3rd Category (so groups spending roughly between 10'000-15'000 for an entire Hoguera)!

I think I'll start off with one obviously dedicated to all the harried working mothers out there, I'm sure a lot of them would recognise themselves (at some point) in this representation:

Ninot Hoguera Santa Isabel. Artista: Rafael G�mez Fonseca

Another one that's definitely making a statement:

Ninot Hoguera Explanada Puerto Postiguet. Artista Xavier Herrero Mart�nez

Crisis? What crisis? (ask the sign at the bottom) The TP rolls say things like "mortgage" "car loan" and "electricity bill".

Now the term "loan shark" doesn't translate literally to Spanish, but if it did this guy would surely fit the bill!

Ninot Hoguera Altozano Sur Las Plazas. Artista: Santiago Ferrer Vicent

I looked all over and he doesn't have a dorsal fin, so not a shark... but still, this is definitely not a face to trust (or maybe he's just really upset with BP...)!

Continuing the marine motif (I'm sure Rhonda from the Tikki Hut is going to love this one, full of seashells!):

Ninot Hoguera Florida Plaza La Vi�a. Artista: Carlos Albaladejo Rodr�guez

Now there's an elegant seahorse! Very regal head:

but this little fellah on the bottom gets the last laughs! :p

To wrap up the "big guys", a funky dragon!

Ninot Hoguera Plaza de Santa Mar�a. Artista: Francisco L�pez Albert

And for the kids, I don't know if there's a man in the moon, but there appears to be a kid settling in for "sweet dreams":

Ninot H.Infantil Rabassa. Artista: David S�nchez Igualda

She doesn't need her beauty sleep, does she?

Ninot H.Infantil Plaza de Santa Mar�a. Artista: Francisco L�pez Albert

And finally, a tale of prickly love! ;o)

Ninot H.Infantil Explanada Puerto Postiguet. Artista: Jos� Enrique Ginestar Moran

Tomorrow: 2nd Category