fallás

Fallas, also known as Fallas de Valencia, is a traditional celebration held annually in Valencia, Spain, from March 15th to 19th. The festival's origins are believed to date back to the Middle Ages, with a tradition of carpenters burning old wooden planks on Saint Joseph's Day, the patron saint of carpenters. Over time, these bonfires evolved into elaborate satirical monuments.

The central element of the Fallas are the ninots, which are large, colorful, and often humorous effigies constructed by local neighborhood groups called comisiones falleras. These ninots are grouped together to form larger constructions called fallas, which can be incredibly intricate and allegorical, depicting current events, politicians, celebrities, or social commentary. The ninots are often made from combustible materials like wood, cardboard, and papier-mâché.

The festival culminates on the night of March 19th with the "cremà," the burning of the fallas. Each neighborhood's falla is set ablaze, creating spectacular bonfires throughout the city. One ninot, chosen by popular vote as the "ninot indultat" (pardoned ninot), is saved from the flames and displayed in the Fallas Museum. The celebration also features parades, traditional music, fireworks displays, and the offering of flowers to the Virgin Mary. The Nit del Foc, the night before the cremà, is famous for its massive fireworks display.