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Fire, smoke, noise, and endless festivities mark Las Fallas, a fire festival celebrated in Valencia, Spain’s third largest city. The festival happens to be a significant time for Valencians to welcome Spring and “burn away” the past.

The origin of this festival is said to have begun in the Middle Ages when people discarded and burnt their old artefacts and wood used during the winter to usher in the spring equinox. In the early days, carpenters used wood planks called ‘parots’ to hang their candles during dark winter months. With the advent of brighter days, these parots were destroyed. Subsequently with the church’s intervention, the date of the bonfire was made to coincide with the festival of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. In a nutshell, Las Fallas is all about tradition, religion, a dose of satire, and great community fun.

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