The annual celebration of Las Fallas is culminating

The annual celebration of Las Fallas in Valencia is culminating at the evening. These celebrations belong to one of the most exciting in Spain and, as they celebrate St. Joseph (San José), the patron of saints of carpenters and wood-carvers, the main features of the celebration are majestic figures of wood or polystyrene. These figures will be burned at the evening in the streets of Valencia. The festivities are accompanied by fireworks and also traditional parades, music or the choosing of the queen. For more about the satirical nature of these remarkable fallas (figures), about the difficulties of creating them, which also creates solidarity between their makers, or about the economic and controversial side of this Spanish tradition, you will be able to read on our website very soon.
Las Fallas Festival in Valencia. Photo: Eliska Fuentes
Las Fallas Festival in Valencia. Photo: Eliska Fuentes

Veronika Vopelkova graduated in Culturology (Theory of Culture) from the Faculty of Arts of Charles University in Prague. During her master’s studies at the Institute of Ethnology (Charles University), she focused on African studies, especially African cultures, African history and traditional African religions. In 2015, she undertook a one month long field work in the Northwest Province of Cameroon, where she carried out 111 questionnaires with people from Kedjom Keku. Moreover, she interviewed the local authorities and other influential persons. The main focus of her master’s thesis includes important ethnologist phenomenon, for example: witchcraft, faith in the souls of ancestors (associated with the celebration of death) and traditional medicine practices.