SPAIN: Valencia's Las Fallas festival goes out in a blaze

Record ID: 772573

  • Title: SPAIN: Valencia's Las Fallas festival goes out in a blaze
  • Date: 21st March 2010
  • Summary: BOY WATCHING
  • Embargoed: 5th April 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz
  • Reuters ID: LVA2S5KCOIVO0LMO3NS9E14G0ZYV
  • Story Text: The Spanish city of Valencia's five day festival known as Las Fallas ended at midnight on Friday (March 19) with the ceremony in which nearly 380 papier mache sculptures were set alight.
    The crowded city, which has celebrated the annual tradition with fireworks, costume parades, paella contests, bullfights and street parties for almost a week, came to an end with the burning of the famous "ninots" sculptures located all over the city.
    With the street lights turned off, fireworks marked the start of the burning ceremony and the light from the huge bonfires of paper mache statues illuminated the coastal city.
    Every year, the different districts of Valencia build a "Falla", which takes the whole year to design, build and paint, and compete to win the first prize in the city contest.
    Neighbourhood residents attending the ceremony were joined by their "Fallera Mayor" and "Fallera Junior Mayor", adult and child representatives of the local Falla association. They are chosen by their neighbours to represent them and hold the title for a year.
    One "Fallera" said she couldn't help but feel sad when she saw the sculpture burn down to ashes.
    "(I feel) sad. Very sad. This has been my 'falla' and it hurts to see it disappearing like that among the flames. You can't help crying or getting sad. You have to think that a new year is starting, but it's your year and you see it ending. Everything has an ending," Maria Jose Bernard told Reuters.
    When asked what she hoped for the child who would took her place next year, the children's representative Raquel said: "(I hope) that my successor gets the same (things) as I did. That she has a good time and as much fun as I did."
    As the spectacular statues were devoured by the flames, some spectators expressed their mixed feelings.
    "Happiness because we reached our goal. To make a 'Falla' and burn it. And because we will do the same thing next year. And sadness, because we liked it a lot. It was very beautiful and we are sad," one neighbour called Manuel told Reuters.
    Every year one Falla is saved from the flames thanks to people's votes, and it is moved to The Museum of the Fallero Artist for posterity.
    The big papier mache statues usually represent Spanish political events in an ironic and sarcastic way, laughing at politicians, stars and local stories, but they also include recent events from the world agenda.
    The celebration is thought to have originated from pagan festivals celebrating the end of the winter and is also considered a homage to Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, builders of the sculptures.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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