The Fallas festival started in medieval times when artisans would burn broken wood and artifacts from the winter at the spring equinox. Over time, figures called ninots were added to the fires and the festival date was moved to coincide with St. Joseph's Day. Nowadays, the large papier-mâché and polystyrene monuments can be over 30 meters tall and depict topical themes. Events include the daily despertà wake up calls with firecrackers and music, the plantà when monuments are erected, mascletà firecracker displays, and the final night of cremà when all the monuments are burned.

1. Fallas By 6th A pupils from the Rei En Jaume Xirivella.

2. History The Falles started in the Middle Ages, when artisans put out their broken artifacts and pieces of wood that they sorted during the winter then burnt them to celebrate the spring equinox. Valencian carpenters used planks of wood to hang their candles on. These planks were known as parots. During the winter, these were needed to provide light for the carpenters to work by. With the coming of the Spring, they were no longer necessary, so they were burned. With time, and the intervention of the Church, the date of the burning of these parots was made to coincide with the celebration of the festival of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the carpenters. This tradition continued to change. The parot was given clothing so that it looked like a person. Features identifiable with some well-known person from the neighborhood were added as well. To collect these materials, children went from house to house asking for Unaestoretavelleta (An old rug) to add to the parot. This became a popular song that the children sang to gather all sorts of old flammable furniture and utensils to burn in the bonfire with the parot. These parots were the first ninots. With time, people of the neighborhoods organized the process of the creation of the Falles and monuments including various figures were born. Until the beginning of the twentieth century, the Falles were tall boxes with three or four wax dolls dressed in cloth clothing. This changed when the creators began to use cardboard. The creation of the Falles continues to evolve in modern day, when largest monuments are made of polystyrene and soft cork easily molded with hot saws. These techniques have allowed Falles to be created in excess of 30 meters

3. The presentation (la presentació) is an act where the new falleras retinues are introduced to the audience . It takes place in February.

4. The wake up call Each day of Falles starts at 7 in the morning with the wake up call (La Despertà). In the despertà the adults Fallers & falleresthrow large firecrackers meanwhile the Falla’s musicians play lively music. The children light the allowed firecrackers for them all day long.

5. The build up (Plantà) The 15th of March, the monuments are built up in the streets .It’s the official day of thePlantà. In the big Fallas use cranes.

6. There’s a jury who gives the different prizes to each Falla category: special, first, second and third

7. There are infantile Fallas, this is, in each Falla society , there is an infantile retinue and an adults one and they have their own monument with their suitable motifs to criticize.

8. Piracy Adults falla’s motifs Piracy Politicians The Valencian TV channel (canal 9)

9. The nowadays society in which the parents are very busy working all day long and the grandparents are in charge of taking care of the grandchildren

10. Musicians The Mayor TV presenters and football players Sport events in Valencia

11. If you buy a ticket you can visit the inside part of Fallas and watch the monuments close. This is David surrounded by some Spanish politicians.

12. Thousands of people go to the Mascletà. The mayor from the city balcony gives the order to start the Mascletà. The pyrotechnic lights the firecrackers. You should open your mouth to keep your ears safe. You can feel the ground moving under your feet Every day from the 1st to the 19th of March at 14:00 we have a Mascletà

13. In almost every street you can find stalls where cook and sell pumpkinbuñuelos and homemade chocolate (typical in Fallas)

14. The paella’s night The falleros cook the Valencian Typical Paella in the streets. Rice Tomato Paprika Ingredients : Beans Saffron threads Chicken Olive oil Water

15. Recipe steps : 6 5 Drop the rice and cook it for 15 minutes. Put three parts of water out of one of rice. Leave it boiling for 30 minutes. 1 2 Add the vegetables and some saffron threads Put the meat to brown 8Enjoy it !!!! 7 Leave it rest for 5 minutes. 3 4 Add the chopped tomato and fry it a little bit Add the paprika It should be eaten from the special pan and with a wooden spoon!!

16. There’s a lighting contest too. Some streets are decorated with bulbs.

17. There are fireworks at nights

18. It takes almost two hours to make aFallerahair do

19. There are two styles The dress

20. The offering (l’ofrena) The 16th,17th and 18th of March are the offering days. All the Falleros & fallerasgo to offer a bunch of flowers to the virgin. With these flowers is decorated the virgin body.

21. Here is the Virgin body decorated with thefallasflowers In Valencia and the virgin in Xirivella.

22. The burnt night (la nit de la cremà) On the 19th of March at night all theFallasare Burnt.

23. We really like the “mascletà” it is funny, Incredible and absolutely amazing. The fireworks night is fantastic and colourful. The best is the gunpowder smell. We FALLAS The constructions are very beautiful And you have a great time watching FALLAS. We hope you enjoy our FALLAS.