In Valencia Spain, the welcoming of Spring is celebrated in a rather unorthodox fashion with the festival of Las Fallas. Fallas are giant compilations of figurines, commonly called “ninots” surrounding a central figure “remate” that depicts the general theme of the sculpture. The Fallas are satirical, comical figures depicting current or public events and can be up to 10 metres tall.
Each neighbourhood sponsors and helps build these amazing cartoonish sculptures, the detail and creativity of which is astonishing, which are then displayed in the town square over a period of 4 days. Fierce voting then ensues to save the best Falla, which is displayed in the Museo Fallero, whilst the rest get banished to the burning ceremony on the 19 March in honour of St Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.
