Spain Events and Festivals

3/15/2009 - 3/19/2009Las Fallas de Valencia

This is one of the best-known and most emblematic festivals in Spain which continues to grow in popularity each year. Tens of thousands of visitors join the whole city of Valencia in this festival of fire, in a mood of excitement and gaiety. Fallas are giant figures built of papier mache, wood and wax, and which represent personalities and current events of the day. They may be symbolic or satirical in theme, realistic or comic-strip in style. Certainly they are elaborate, built with consummate care in different workshops around the city, over the course of the year. Known locally as "Ninots", they go up in flames on StJoseph's Night (19 March), reaching a blazing climax near midnight, when flames leap skywards all over the city centre and thousands of fireworks discharge over the rooftops. Events unfold over several days beforehand, divided into Exaltation (Offering of Flowers), the Crida, the Procession of the "Ninots", the Offering of Flowers, the "Planta" (placing) and the "Crema" (conflagration). One "Ninot" is saved from the flames each year, to join previous winners in the Museum of the Ninot