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Summary
This is how Valencia's Las Fallas festival ends every year. Nearly 380 papier mache sculptures were burned this time around in the fiery finish that marks the end of the five day festival. Crowds in Valencia have celebrated the annual tradition for almost a week with fireworks, costume parades, paella contests, bullfights and street parties.Every year the different districts of Valencia build a Falla which takes a whole year to design, build and paint. One representative of the local Falla association said she was saddened to watch the sculpture go up in flames. Every year a people's vote saves one falla from being burned, and it is instead moved to the Museum of the Fallero Artist for posterity. The statues normally represent Spanish politics in an ironic and sarcastic way, but the event is thought to have originated from pagan festivals and is considered a homage to Saint Joseph- patron saint of carpenters.
