Podworld - Exploring interesting places

In March every year Valencia in Spain is a destination tourists from all around Europe flock to. It is for the spectacular Festival of Fire, known locally as Las Fallas. In all there are five days of celebrations culminating in a final night of fire.  At the heart of the celebrations are brilliantly constructed papier maché sculptures which are created by each community in Valencia. Some depict children's characters other political, celebrity or even royal figures. Many of the more extravagant can reach upto four of five stories high. The amount of work which go into taking them is there for all visitors to observe.  Then on the final day of the celebration, these wonderful creations are set alight one by one. This normally begins at night fall but can last last until the early early hours of the following morning. There is a is schedule for the burnings so that visitors can be in the correct location. Be aware that the timings are not precise and some burnings ...

To celebrate its Viking heritage, the Yorkshire village of Flamborough has inaugurated a fire festival to welcome in the new year. Here is a video showing part of that celebration plus some still images. Viking Fire Festival Fire parade around Main Street, Flamborough The Nordic vessel paraded in Yorkshire In Norse times, Flamborough, with its distinctive white headland and beach at Thronwich Bay, would have been an ideal landmark for Scandinavian raiders to use as a navigation aid and landing site. They went on to settle Jorvik which became York and Wyke which is present day Kingston-upon-Hull.