Fallas 2018: How the Great Valencian Tradition of the Year

Every year on March 19, Valencia, Spain, blossoms with the bright colors of the Las Fallas festival and thunders with fireworks that scatter over the Valencian coast. Fallas leaves no one indifferent. And this is because it is one of the most deeply rooted traditions in time and that, in addition, they keep many anecdotes that have been part of the history of Valencia for many years. You will be surprised by all the curiosities that take place on this day!

Carpenters' Traditions. The Valencian Carpenters' Guild honored the feast of their employer, San José (March 19), by setting fire to the remains of the wood shavings and furniture that were in their workshops. This tradition sought to bless the workshops in the face of spring. This festival became the starting point of the parties that we know today, and they have the same spirit: burn the misery of winter to begin a new cycle with greater joy.

In the past, these were not giant sculptures. Fallas monuments were quite small in their origins, so small. However, over the years, artists have begun to create larger ninots as the tradition has become increasingly popular.

The sculptures were made of wax. Since the size of the ninots was modest, wax could be used, as it burned much better, but as time went on and the artistic creations became more complex, other materials began to be used, which burned better and created more spectacle.

Where does the name Fallas come from? It is a word of medieval usage in Valencia at the time. It comes from Latin, and the abbreviated version gave the name to the torches that were placed in the watchtowers of the city.

There is no party in Spain that does not have its own typical sweet. And in the case of Las Fallas, the main dish is pumpkin pancakes.