Formerly, much time would also be spent at the Casal Faller preparing the ninot (Valencian for puppet or doll) for the Falles. During the week leading up to March 19th, each group take it's single favorite ninot out for a grand parade, and then mounts it, each on it's own elaborate firecracker-filled cardboard and fireworks barrages) is king, and the crowds gather from all corners to the main plaza, the Pla? de l'Ajuntament, to hear one of the lovely maidens (dressed in her fallera finery) call from the balcony of the City Hall "Mr. Pyrotechnic, you may light the fuses!!". Suddenly the plaza rips with a pyrotecnic display designed to showcase the concussive effects of the pyrotechnics arts - something rarely seen outside the battlefield. For a half an hour or better, the crowd rocks with each explosion, great billowing clouds rise up, and the air is filled with the smoke from all the black powder. Smaller neighborhoods have their own mascletaes for Falles, but also for other saint days, and for weddings and other celebrations as well, as any reason will do as an excuse for young men jump through the fires.
During Falles, many people from the neighborhood casal faller dress in the regional costumes from different eras of Valencia's history - the fife and drum are frequently heard, even bagpipes, as most of the different casals fallers have their own traditional bands that demonstrate the Celtiberian roots of Spain, a real Celtic connection that surprises many visitors.
A similar tradition happens in Alicante the night before June 24 (St John Baptist's day), the Hogueras de san Juan.
History
It is thought that the Falles started in the Middle Ages, when artisans put out their broken artifacts and pieces of wood that they have sotred during the winter and burned them to celebrate the spring equinox.
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