Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2025

Daily Sabah - Latest & Breaking News from Turkey | Istanbul

  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV
  • Arts
  • Cinema
  • Music
  • Events
  • Portrait
  • Reviews
  • Performing Arts

Spain's 'Fallas' festival concludes with spectacular fire show

by French Press Agency - AFP

VALENCIA, Spain Sep 07, 2021 - 1:02 pm GMT+3
Ninots (cardboard figurines) burn as one installation of the Fallas Festival is set on fire in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)
Ninots (cardboard figurines) burn as one installation of the Fallas Festival is set on fire in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)
by French Press Agency - AFP Sep 07, 2021 1:02 pm

It was a spectacular sight to behold when the “Fallas” festival in Spain's Valencia wrapped up with fireworks and the burning of colorful sculptures Sunday; unfortunately, there were no attendees to witness the sight with restrictions in place, as the famous and popular event returned to the eastern Spanish city after taking a hiatus due to the global COVID-19 pandemic last year.

The five-day festival is traditionally held in March but was canceled last year as the COVID-19 pandemic swept Spain. This year, officials postponed the start of the UNESCO-recognized event until Sept. 1.

It was the first time that the festival was suspended since the end of Spain's 1936-39 civil war.

A Fallas installation is set on fire during the last night of the festival in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)
A ninot burns as an installation of the Fallas festival is set on fire during the last night of the festival in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)
A falla burning during the traditional Fallas festival in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)
A woman in kimono walks past a falla during the Fallas festival in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 2, 2021. (AFP Photo)

Each year, residents make hundreds of colorful puppet-like sculptures – some as big as four-story buildings – out of wood, plaster and papier-mache for the festival.

Called "ninots," the sculptures depict fairytale characters and cartoonish effigies of politicians and celebrities.

One ensemble from this year's event was inspired by the hit Spanish Netflix series "Money Heist." It depicted several people wearing red overalls and Salvador Dali face masks like the main characters in the show.

A ninot burns as an installation of the Fallas festival is set on fire during the last night of the festival in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)
Ninots (cardboard figurines) burn as one installation of the Fallas Festival is set on fire in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)
A falla burns during the traditional Fallas festival in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)
A figure of the municipal Falla, 'La meditadora,' burns during the end of the Fallas festival, in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 5, 2021. (Reuters Photo)

The ninots are displayed in the streets of the Mediterranean city and then burned on the last day of the festival – in a bonfire called the "Crema" – in a centuries-old tradition honoring St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.

Fireworks lit up the night sky as this year's bonfire, which featured about 750 sculptures, was held without the thousands of spectators that the event usually draws.

The bonfire was brought forward by two hours to allow festivities to end before a nightly virus curfew came into effect at 1 a.m. (11 p.m. GMT).

After much debate, a customary flower offering to the Virgin Mary was allowed to proceed – but without people lining the route, as is tradition.

A falla burning during the traditional Fallas festival in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)
A falla burns during the traditional Fallas festival in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 5, 2021. (AFP Photo)
A person watches as figures burn during the end of the Fallas festival, which welcomes Spring and commemorates St. Joseph's Day, in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 5, 2021. (Reuters Photo)
Fallas festival kicks off after its suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Valencia, Spain, Sept. 1, 2021. (Reuters Photo)

"These are not Fallas as such, more like Fallas-related events that comply with health regulations," said Valencia Mayor Joan Ribo.

The Fallas festival is believed to have originated from pagan rituals marking the end of winter.

The pandemic has forced the cancelation of many of Spain's most famous fiestas, including Pamplona's bull-running festival and Seville's Holy Week processions.

  • shortlink copied
  • Last Update: Sep 07, 2021 4:02 pm
    KEYWORDS
    festivals spain culture fireworks covid-19 pandemic fiesta
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    Hagia Sophia History and Experience Museum highlights 1,700 years of history
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • DS TV
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021