Las Fallas
By Selena Garcia & Cheyenne
¿Quién(es)?
These statues are typically made of popular figures meaning famous people are politicians. These figures are then burned by the people that live in the community and tourists.
¿Qué?
In this festival paper-mach statues are burned. They typically will end up shoving holes that are hidden within the statues bases and then light them up at night, and setting them on fire.
¿Cuándo?
This all begins on the very first out of five days, which is the 15th of March, and ends on the 19th of March.
¿Dónde?
This all takes place in Valencia, Spain. It happens in the center of the city, and the whole community gathers together to witness this marvelous event.
¿Por qué?
It's said that the festival is connected to a pagan celebration of the spring equinox. This origins goes all the way back to 1497 when artisans and carpenters took a simple but long lasting initiative. There were oil lamps that hung carelessly that hung upon wooden structures. It's said that a clumsy and maybe (inspired) worker that set a wooden structure on fire, and let it burn. The celebration was adopted to celebrate the arrival of warmer and longer days. This was then dedicated to San José, the patron saint of carpenters.
¿Cómo?
It's been said that it takes a lot of time to make these structures. The communities as a whole raise the funds to put on these huge celebrations. There are fireworks that are stuffed into the bases of the structures and then are lit up, and allowed to go off. This also happens to be a fire hazard, but the firemen are there to keep the flames at bay. Traditionally they will end up putting up fire proof tarps to cover and protect certain buildings, in case the fire does end up spreading.
¿Qué significa?
'La Nit de Foc'- La Nit de Foc happs on the final night, the 19th of march. This is the moment everyone waits for. This is the night in which they light the beautiful statues that are created.
'La Mascletá'- La Mascleta is an event that starts at 2pm. At this type you will hear explosions all over the city that has been organized.
'La Mascletá'- La Mascleta is an event that starts at 2pm. At this type you will hear explosions all over the city that has been organized.