The origins of the Fallas festival, are rooted in commemorating the day of Saint Joseph, the Saint of carpenters. This dates back to the 15th century, when carpenters used wooden handles to hold up their lamps during winter.
When spring was approaching and the days began to get longer, carpenters no longer needed their wooden poles, therefore tradition would have it that in honor of their patron San José, they decided to burn them on March the 19th.
Later People joined in this custom, by bringing to these bonfires old things from their houses that were no longer useful, such as clothes and old furniture. It was a symbol of the winter coming to a close and the arrival of spring.
As with most traditions, the Fallas gradually evolved over time. They adopted a critical and ironic tone, displaying scenes of condemned social behaviors in their artwork. The first Fallas week was organized in 1932. Since then, the Fallas have become the main festivity in the Valencia Region and were also included in the UNESCO cultural heritage of humanity listed on November 30th 2016.
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