fallas

If a festival calendar is any indication of people's character, Valencian people love those celebrations that allow for exhibition, music, and lots of brilliant paraphernalia. They are fond of great crashing thunderous blasts. Most festivals in Valencia are brought to a close with great quantities of gunpower; streets and "plazas" are covered with myrtle and bells ring out. The whole city vibrates with thousands of illuminated garlands, music bands and mid-day fireworks. It is the famous "mascletá", indicating that "las fallas have started"

There is no documentation whatsoever on the formal origins of fallas. The term itself refers to the bonfire. Anyway, I found a site where they attempt to describe its origins. Click on the title above and you will get to the Official Site of the Fallas. It is in Spanish, but I will guide you to the English version.

Click on the heading in the middle of the page that reads:
"Historia de las Fallas", you will be on a spanish-version page, but on the top right corner of the page you will be directed to the English version. Skim through it, and then go back to the home page to check this year's winning fallas.

Scroll down the home page until you get to "Premios Fallas" (Prizes to Fallas). Click there and you will see a table with different sections, click on "Sección Especial" (special section), to see this year's winning falla. Click on the different sections to see the winners in the different categories.

On the top left corner of the home there are two photos of the "falleras mayores" (the queens of the festivity), wearing the traditional regional Valencian costumes.

I was lucky enough, that the Ninot corresponding to the street on which I live, was indulted from being burnt, so it will go to the "Fallero" Museum.