Spain's Fallas fiesta resumes after COVID hiatus, rain damage

Falla El Charco monument, damaged after heavy rainfall, is seen in Valencia, Spain, September 2, 2021. REUTERS/Eva Manez

VALENCIA, Spain (Reuters) - Heavy rain has dampened the giant paper mache figures lined up for the Fallas festival in the Spanish city of Valencia, but not the spirits of participants eager to celebrate the fiery fiesta after a pandemic-induced hiatus.

The five-day festival, traditionally held in March, was cancelled last year as the COVID-19 pandemic struck Spain. The start of this year's event had to be postponed until Sept. 1 due to many restrictions in place earlier this year.