Saint
Joseph's Day, also known as Fallas de San José, honors St Joseph, the Virgin
Mary's spouse. It is held annually on March 19. This date is also known as
Father's Day (Día del Padre) in many areas in Spain.
Some people attend special church services to honor the life of St
Joseph. St Joseph's Day also celebrates fathers. Many people make a special
effort to visit their father or father figures. Some people also take fathers
or father figures to a restaurant or give Father's Day gifts.
Fallas (or
falles) are constructed, displayed and ceremonially burnt in many towns and
villages in the autonomous community of Valencia, including the city of Valencia.
Fallas are elaborate scenes made of papier-mâché and cardboard. One is chosen
by popular vote each year to be preserved in the regional museum. The rest are
burnt during fireworks displays in the evening of March 19.
The
tradition of constructing and burning fallas arose at some stage in the Middle
Ages. Carpenters burnt broken pieces of work and remnants of wood collected
during the winter to celebrate the spring equinox. At some point, the fires
were moved to St Joseph's Day as he is the patron saint of carpenters.
Ninots and
fallas are important symbols of Saint Joseph's Day in Valencia. Ninots are
figures made of papier-mâché and cardboard. They are carefully constructed and
usually life-sized or larger. A group of ninots based on a particular theme is
assembled into a falla. A falla is a collection of ninots to make a scene
depicting a story or situation. It is usually filled with firecrackers
and fireworks.
