Falles of Alzira
The "Falles" or "Fallas" (sing. "Falla") of Alzira are a celebration in commemoration of Saint Joseph in the town of Alzira, which, like the "Falles" in Valencia and other towns of the Valencian Community, takes place in March. Apart from the "Fallas" in Valencia, those celebrated in Alzira are the most important festival of this type, due to their century-old tradition, their continuing popularity, and the fact that they have the largest number of active participants ("fallers"), "commissions" (organised groups of "fallers") and "falla monuments" ("falles"), seventy of which are erected in the streets of the  town. The "Falles" of Alzira have been declared an Event of National Tourist Interest. A "falla" is an artistic construction or "monument" made of combustible materials, depicting a particular scene. The most important elements are the "ninots", cartoon-like figures made of papier mâche. The "Falles" of Alzira are regulated by an association called "Junta Local Fallera". In 1989, the first centenary of this event was celebrated; the ceremonies where presided over by the president of the Generalitat Valenciana at the time, Joan Lerma. The "Falles" week. The "Falles" festivity officially begins in early March with a ceremony known as  La Cridà, and it ends with the "Falles" week, which is subjected to a strict schedule of events: On the 17th, 18th and 19 March, each commission meets at eight o'clock in the morning in the "casal" (the commission's regular meeting venue), to celebrate the "despertà", which means walking around their neighborhood throwing firecrackers. Immediately afterwards the typical breakfast is served in each "casal". Then the "fallers" walk through the streets and visit other "casals" until lunchtime. At 2 p.m., there is a fireworks display, the famous "mascletà", in the " Plaza del Reino", which is watched by crowds of  people. Artistic monuments. The "falles" are usually satirical in nature, making reference to current issues. These monuments can be up to 25 or 30 metres high, and they consist of a number of papier mâche "ninots" held up by a wooden framework. However, papier mâche has, in recent years, occasionally been replaced by styrofoam (EPS) since it makes the "falles" lighter and brighter in colour. Signs written in Valencian explain the meaning of each scene in a critical or satyrical way. Many professionals such as sculptors, painters, and other craftsmen work on the construction of the "falles" for months. They  are hired by the commissions. The "falles" are erected in the streets on the night of the 15th of March. This day is known as the "Plantà". In fact, nowadays the process of erecting the "falles" starts several days earlier, due to their size and the need to use cranes. The monuments are burnt on the day of the "Cremà". Sections. The members of each commission chooses which "section" (group of "Falles" that compete with each other) they want to belong to. The aim of grouping "falles" in sections is to have a fair competition between monuments with a comparable  artistic quality. Belonging to one section or another depends on a commission's annual declaration of its budget. No section can have more than ten monuments; if there are more than ten applicants for one section, the ten monuments with the highest budgets enter that particular section. Clothing. The "faller" (man) should wear: The "fallera" (woman) should wear: The "blusón" (a checkered shirt) is not considered traditional Valencian clothing and its use is only permitted during strictly private celebrations of the commissions. 1. The current "Fallera Major" and "Fallera Major Infantil" (who must not be older than 14), the annually  elected "queen" and "junior queen" of the entire "Falles" festivity, are the only participants allowed to wear the so-called "Alzira model" costume and the combs with the town's coat of arms or that of the J"unta Local Fallera". 2. These provisions are enforced by the General Assembly in collaboration with a minimum of two qualified clothing consultants to make sure that the clothing used satisfies the decency requirements and respects the traditions. 3. The traditional sash with the colours of the Spanish flag is the distinctive attribute of the "Falleres Majors" and the "Falleres Majors Infaltils", both those  of the entire "Falles" festivity and those of each of the commissions. The members of their "courts of honour" wear a sash with the colours of the Valencian flag, with the badge and the name of the respective commission embroidered, on a white background, at the top of the blue band.