Valencia is a beautiful city on the eastern shore of Spain, along the Mediterranean Sea. It has such a laid back culture and beautiful beaches. I recently went in order to see one of the city's biggest traditions...Las Fallas, a huge month long celebration.
Las Fallas started hundreds of years ago as a pagan tradition. Farmers would use lots of wood during the winter months and there were lots of leftovers/scrap pieces. When spring finally arrived, they would burn all of the extra scraps as a way to welcome spring and as a way to forget the year that had passed and have a fresh start. As time went on the tradition continued to evolve and the wood began to be made to look like political figures and people from the town, as a kind of satire or poltical statement. Today Las Fallas has a set theme every year (I believe this year was corruption and greed) and almost all of them make fun of political leaders or society.
So all the gorgeous statues you see below (not only take an entire year to make) but are also filled with gun powder and blown up on the very last day of Las Fallas. It's very strange to me that you would work sooo hard to make something all year....just to blow it up. But to each his own. It's definitely an interesting tradition to say the least. Fire and fireworks are two of the main symbols associated with Las Fallas. At night all I heard was firecrackers going off, literally everywhere. Little kids would throw them in front of people, cars, dogs, anything really, then run off as they exploded. Crazy I know. And since I was not there on the last day of the festival I did not get to see all of Las Fallas blown up (Las Fallas is what they call the statues they make as well as the name of the entire celebration). It was a loud trip but definitely an interesting experience I will never forget. Learning about and getting to witness cultures, especially the different traditions, is fascinating.
xo
Paella de Valencia
One of the most famous dishes in Spain, Paella originated in Valencia
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