Las Fallas festival, Valencia

The term 'fallas' refers to both the celebration and the sculptures created for it. Each neighbourhood of Valencia produces its own sculture - this one, 'the Kiss' was made in the Nou Campanar suburb Photograph: Manuel Bruque/EPA Photograph: Manuel Bruque/guardian.co.uk The women who take part in the festival are know as 'falleras'. Here they watch the Mascleta, an event in which hundreds of explosive fireworks are set off Photograph: Manuel Bruque/EPA Photograph: Manuel Bruque/guardian.co.uk 'Ninots', or wooden dolls, are put on display for the Mascleta fireworks Photograph: Manuel Bruque/EPA Photograph: Manuel Bruque/guardian.co.uk Valencia's main square is filled with smoke during the Mascleta Photograph: Kai Foersterling/EPA Photograph: Kai Foersterling/guardian.co.uk A technician oversees the setting off of firecrackers in Valencia's main square Photograph: Kai Foersterling/EPA Photograph: Kai Foersterling/guardian.co.uk Participants from the Nou Campanar neighbourhood put the finishing touches to their sculpture 'the Kiss' Photograph: Heino Kalis/Reuters Photograph: Heino Kalis/guardian.co.uk Participants from the Nou Campanar neighbourhood put the finishing touches to their sculpture 'the Kiss' Photograph: Juan Carlos Cardenas/EPA Photograph: Juan Carlos Cardenas/guardian.co.uk 'Fallas' are painted in preparation for the last day of the festival Photograph: Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Jose Jordan/guardian.co.uk This structure caricatures the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, and his wife, Carla Bruni Photograph: Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty Images Photograph: Jose Jordan/guardian.co.uk A sculpture depicting the US president, Barack Obama, as Superman carrying his wife Michelle Photograph: Manuel Bruque/EPA Photograph: Manuel Bruque/guardian.co.uk Matador Enrique Ponce prepares to take part in the 'Las Fallas' bullfight Photograph: Manuel Bruque/EPA Photograph: Manuel Bruque/guardian.co.uk 'Falleras' in their traditional dresses Photograph: Kai Foersterling/EPA Photograph: Kai Foersterling/guardian.co.uk A 'fallera' attends the Mascleta fireworks display Photograph: Kai Foersterling/EPA Photograph: Kai Foersterling/guardian.co.uk Drivers take part in a vintage car rally that form part of the festival Photograph: Manuel Bruque/EPA Photograph: Manuel Bruque/guardian.co.uk A young 'fallera' dressed in traditional costume takes a rest ahead of the festivities Photograph: Kai Foersterling/EPA Photograph: Kai Foersterling/guardian.co.uk 'Falleras' watch fireworks from under their at Las Arenas beach Photograph: Juan Carlos Cardenas/EPA Photograph: Juan Carlos Cardenas/guardian.co.uk A traditional "ninot" sculpture burns during the last day of the "Fallas" festival in Valencia, Spain Photograph: Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty Images A traditional "ninot" sculpture burns down on the last day of the "Fallas" festival in Valencia , Spain Photograph: Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty Images A traditional "ninot" sculpture burns during the last day of the "Fallas" festival in Valencia, Spain Photograph: Jose Jordan/AFP/Getty Images