In this case, the community celebrates Las Fallas to honor Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. Long ago, carpenters would burn left-over wood at the start of spring to clean out their workshops. Over time, the simple bonfires turned into creative sculptures, and the celebration grew into a major festival. Think of it like, "If we are already gonna burn a bunch of wood, why not make it pretty and artistic and throw a party at the same time?" Today, the festival is a way for the community to express creativity, celebrate together and keep an old tradition alive.
Yes, Las Fallas is connected to the environment in a number of ways. First, the burning of the sculptures comes from the idea of welcoming spring and clearing out old materials. Many sculptures are made of recyclable materials like wood and cardboard. Also, in recent years, the community has tried to make the festival more environmentally-friendly by reducing smoke and using cleaner materials. The tradition still honors nature’s cycle of the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
