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One of the most exciting and splendid
festivals on earth, the Las Fallas
de Valencia or simply Las Fallas is
celebrated every year in Spain. Originally
started out as a feast day in remembrance
of St Joseph, the patron saint of
carpenters, Las Fallas has gradually
evolved as a five-day pyrotechnic
extravagance. Though Valencia is a
quiet city with an estimated population
of half a million people, during Las
Fallas, the city streets get choked
with over three million flame-loving
revelers.
As the name suggests, Las Fallas
in Spanish means "the fires". Las
Fallas mainly includes the creation
and destruction of ninots (huge cardboard,
wood and plaster statues). These ninots
are placed at over 350 key intersection
points across the city and are set
ablaze during the night. Having a
striking resemblance with the corrupt
politicians, bawdy and satirical scenes
and Spanish celebrities, these ninots
take around half a year to construct.
Manufactured by the neighborhood organizations,
these ninots often cost US $ 75,000
and above. Often close to several
stories tall, these ninots require
cranes to be moved from one place
to the other and position them on
site.
Till March 19th or "La Crema", the
ninots are kept in their respective
places across the city. Right from
the wee hours of the evening people
start gathering around the ninots,
chop holes in the statues and fireworks
are stuffed inside them. The crowd
starts chanting and the streetlights
are turned off. At exactly the stroke
of midnight, all the ninots are set
ablaze together and people enjoy the
spectacle. The local firemen called
"bomberos" are also quite conscious
about the life and property of the
people. To ensure a safe and happy
Las Fallas, bomberos neatly cover
the surrounding buildings with fireproof
tarps. One of the specialties of Las
Fallas is that every year one ninot
is spared from burning by popular
vote. This ninot is used as an exhibit
at the local Museum of the Ninot and
is placed along with the other ninots
from past years.
For more information on the other
festivals the worlds over, please
browse through the pages of .
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