Every year in March, residents of the Spanish province of Valencia, and many tourists are going to one of the brightest and most insane festivals of Spain – “Las Fallas” (pronounced “las fayyas”), the festival of fire and the arrival of spring.

One of the highlights of the festival “Las Fallas” is a parade of giant puppets made ​​of papier-mache and wood. On the last day of the festival of dolls are burned in honor of St. Joseph, patron of joinery. This year, the streets of Valencia burned 600 giant puppets.

The height of the giant puppets, which are also called “ninot” (ninot), varies from 2 to 20 meters. Their production takes several months. Dolls ninot “has long become a symbol not only of the festival, but the whole of Spain.

Made from papier-mache, wood and cork, dolls ninot “portrayed politicians and fairytale characters, music, performers and other celebrities.

Feast of “Las Fallas” appeared in the 15 st century. The history of its origin is most likely associated with the celebration of the vernal equinox.

In the old days during the spring holiday of the guild of carpenters burned accumulated over the winter, wood waste, as well as a variety of old things in the first place – stands for lamps, which became obsolete due to increased daylight.

Gradually “burning piece of wood” turned into a puppet, whose craftsmanship perfected over the centuries. Yes, and the festival overgrown more complex rituals, and are gaining in popularity.

Now these dolls in height from 2 to 20 m are made well in advance of the holiday in special workshops with special artists – fallero.

In the early days of the festival is a kind of competition: the jury chooses the best doll that on the day of cremation remains intact, and then leak into the Valencia Museum ninotov-indultantov.

“Las Fallas”, festival of fire and the arrival of spring, as he timed St. Joseph (March 19), who is the patron saint of carpenters, and most of Valencia.

Parade of giant platforms with dolls made of papier-mache, symbolizing the human vices, is one of the key actions of the holiday

If you own a population of 800,000 inhabitants, Valencia annually takes in during the holiday about 2 million tourists. Iberian peninsula in general is so popular with fans of recreation and travel that many people prefer to buy apartments in Spain , the more legal form is not so difficult.

At the time of the celebration of Valencia is decorated with countless festoons every night sky over the city shaken by the grand fireworks and pyrotechnic show, and on the streets does not stop the music.

One of the highlights of the festival – the burning of giant puppets, the production of which could take months.

On the last day of the festival after the parade “Cabalgata del Fuego” is the burning of dolls: 10 pm burned children “ninot” in 12 hours under fire, killed a large “ninot.

Only one figure, chosen the best, avoids burning and sent to a special museum.

Just in case that night were watching the parade three hundred firefighters.

The burning of dolls – is not the only highlight of the festival. In recent years, and dolls nachinyayutsya more and pyrotechnics, so that burning is a terrible roar, the teams compete for the loudest performance.

Festivities with a choice of queen, the musicians and the same “maskletoy” also attracts a large crowd of city guests.