In Valencia, Spain there is a tradition every year in March that lasts five days from March 15-19. It ends with the feast of St. Joseph and the burning of Las Fallas.
Las Fallas started in the 15th century when carpenters burned wooden scraps and symbolized the end of the winter and to celebrate St. Joseph the patron saint of carpenters.
All throughout Las Fallas, fireworks and firecrackers are lit, lighting up the night and creating a serenade of loud explosions.
The food eaten throughout this time is paella and pumpkin fritters. Paella is a traditional Valencian dish made with rice, chicken and rabbit, green beans, butter beans, paprika, saffron, tomato, and rosemary. The paella has many different variations with seafood and sometimes snails.
Girls dress up as falleras in traditional Valencian dresses. They style their hair in three braided buns. There is the tradition of having la Fallera Mayor, who is the female representative for Las Fallas chosen every year from the oldest falleras.
In the Plaza de la Virgen (Plaza of the Virgin), the city places La Ofrenda de Flores (The Offering of Flowers) which is a giant statue of La Virgen 
de los Desamparados (Our Lady of the Forsaken), which the falleras adorn with different colors of flowers creating an intricate and beautiful pattern around the statue.
Las Fallas ends on March 19 with the burning fallas which are sculptures made of cardboard, papier-mache, and wood. The people who make these sculptures dedicate themselves year by year to make them for Las Fallas. Each Plaza in Valencia has Fallas and they compete with each other and are judged by innovation, technical skill, and artistry. This competition takes place on March 16, three days before they are burned. The winners are displayed in a special section of the festival, attracting bigger crowds.
Las Fallas are a fun and exciting tradition in Valencia, Spain which should be experienced at least once in a lifetime.
