The Incomparable Festivity of Fire in Spain

Also known as "the fires," Las Fallas exists as among the most incomparable festivities in the Spanish country, particularly in Valencia. Starting out as a normal feast day offered to St. Joseph, the famous patron of carpenters, the feast day turns out to be a five-day festivity that starts from March 12 until March 19.

Aside from the kaleidoscopic fireworks, the festivity features the so-called ninots, which are big cardboard statues that are displayed in more than 350 parks or intersections in the city. These life-sized ninots are celebrated because they usually depict current events or satirical scenes such as corrupt Spanish poiticians or celebrated ordinary celebrities. These ninots are produced by Spanish organizations for about 6 months and ordinarily cost US$75,000 or more.

Except for the most distinguished ninot that people preserve in the museum, all ninots are destroyed by teenaged Spanish men using axes and fireworks regardless of the expenses and sizes. During this period, no streetlight is on while the people chant before they set the ninots on fire explicitly when midnight strikes. Because of the uniqueness of such activity, the celebrated Las Fallas celebration causes the population to swell up to approximately 3 million, though Valencia comprises almost 500,000 denizens and the city is ordinarily calm during ordinary days.