Las+Fallas+7

= Las Fallas de Valencia = ===** If you are into loud noises, fireworks, and the smell of gunpowder than Las Fallas is the festival for you! Las Fallas literally means "fire" in Valecian. This festival takes place in a city by the name of Valencia. Valencia is a city that is usually quiet and has a population just over one million, but during this festival it is populated with over 3 million excited people. Las Fallas started as a feast day for St. Josephs the patron saint of carpenters. Historians also say the origin of Las Fallas goes back when carpenters cleaned out workshops (at the end of winter) and ﻿ took wood and old candles and would light them on the street on Saint Josephs day. It then developed into a five day festival starting on March 15 lasting until March 19. **===

** The main focus of this festival is the creation and destruction of ninots. Ninots are lifelike paper mache statues. Ninots take seven months to a year to make and **
===** can be get many stories high. Ninots are made by neighborhood organizations and can cost up to 75,000 dollars on average. Ninots can be based off political figures, characters from movies and television, sports stars, and could just be made by imagination.They are moved into their position of over 350 key intersections and parks by cranes. The ninots are put around the city on March 15 the day know as la planta or known to us as the rising. The ninots stay in their positions until March 19 the day known as La Crema or the burning. Early in the morning on March 19, men take axes and cut small holes inside the ninot to place fireworks in. At midnight they set all the ninots on fire but one. Each year one ninot is seperated from the others during La Crema by popular vote. That ninot is called ninot indultat (the pardoned puppet) and is placed in the local "Museum of the NInot" along with other winners from the previous years. Over the years, **=== ===** firefighters have found a way to protect the cities houses and buildings during La Crema by putting fireproof tarps over them. **=== ===** Each day you would be woken up at eight in the morning, this is called La Desperata. They wake you up with bands and firecrackers. Also, each day at two in the afternoon firecrackers go through Plaza de Ayuntamiento in a hectic event called La Mascleta. This parade of gunpowder involves different neighborhood organizations competing for the best volley. This event ends with the terremoto which means the earthquake. This finale leaves the ground shaking for at least 15 minutes. Another essiential event is Ofrendo de Flores a la Virgen de los Desamparados a ceremony on the 17 and 18 honoring Valencia's patron Virgen. Falleras and Falleros dress in traditional costumes dancing the streets on their way to Plaza de la Virgen offering flowers to the giant image of the Virgen. Each night there is a firework show with several different fireworks in the old river bed. **=== ===** If you are not into ninots and firecrackers then there are other things you can do. For example you may find yourself attracted to the beauty pageants, paella contests (which is a famous dish), parades with acrobats,and can see a bullfight. **===

** This day is said to be a mix of fourth of July, Disney World, and the end of the world combined. This festival is a sight to see, I hope you don't miss it! **
"LAS FALLAS." // Euroresidentes, España, Spain //. Web. 07 Dec. 2010. .

"Las Fallas Biggest Party in the World." // LAS FALLAS THE BIGGEST PARTY IN THE WORLD ITS IN VALENCIA SPAIN //. Web. 07 Dec. 2010. 

"Fallas Valencia - Spanish Festival of Fire." // Spain Travel Guide - The Definitive Guide to Travel in Spain //. Web. 07 Dec. 2010. .