Fallas is the most important festive season in Valencia.
It’s celebrated from 15th until 19th of March in honor of Saint Joseph, the patron
of carpenters. The tradition begins in the 18th century when the carpenters of
the city burned old furniture to say goodbye to the bad omens and the winter
and give a warm welcome to the spring.
Nowadays the tradition continues, but instead of
burning old furniture, the architects build up huge satiric monuments to
criticize the society. These monuments receive the name of Ninots and
each Ninot
costs thousands of euros. What is more, all these monuments will be burned
on the last day of Fallas. Meanwhile
Spain faces the deepest financial crisis, the Fallas of Valencia burn around nine million euros every year. And
it seems that society doesn’t care about. Instead of providing funds for health
and education the Spanish society invests money on building these cute Ninots.
As if this weren’t bad enough, Fallas pollute the city very worryingly. During the festivity there
are fireworks twice a day every day. What would say Saint Joseph if he saw in what
the tradition of burning the old furniture has become.
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