The Spanish culture is deeply intertwined with religious traditions (the Catholic Church played a prominent role throughout much of the nation’s history). As a result, many of the most notable holidays and celebrations in Spain are held in honor of religious figures.
Valencia, a Spanish city on the Mediterranean coast, is home to an annual festival in recognition of Saint Joseph. Residents of the city spend the entire year preparing for the celebration, which lasts for five consecutive days. Each neighborhood’s activities are orchestrated by a chosen leader, who takes responsibility for raising the funds that will finance the most important aspect of the festival: the neighborhood’s falla.
A falla is a large monument erected with cardboard and papier-mâché. Firecrackers and other pyrotechnics are often included in its construction. The ultimate purpose of a falla, the name of which is derived from the Latin word for “torch,” is to be burned. Each year, at the culmination of the festival, the neighborhoods joyfully incinerate the result of their 360 days of preparation.
The celebrations, of course, include much more than the burning of fallas. Each morning, brass bands play throughout the streets of Valencia to awaken its residents for the festivities. Many of the neighborhood coordinators follow the bands, igniting firecrackers along the way to ensure that no one misses La Despertá (“the awakening”). While many take to setting off their own fireworks during Las Fallas, every day also includes a professionally coordinated show during the afternoon.
The religious purpose of the festival is never forgotten in the midst of the explosions. Although Las Fallas is dedicated to Saint Joseph, a great deal of emphasis is also placed on the city’s patron, Virgen de los desamparados (“Our Lady of the Forsaken”). Residents bring flowers to a large statue of their Lady (which is not burned at the end of the celebrations), ultimately leaving her adorned from head to toe in their tributes. Masses are held periodically, both in churches and in the streets.