La Tomatina

La Tomatina (25.08.2010) - Spain, Buñol 21

La Tomatina is a festival that is held in the town of Buñol, in the Valencia region of Spain. The event takes place on the last Wednesday of August each year, during a week of festivities in Buñol. Participants throw tomatoes and engage in a tomato fight purely for entertainment purposes.

History

The origins of La Tomatina are somewhat unclear, but the most popular theory is that it began in 1945 when some young people attended a parade of giants and big-heads figures. They decided to join the parade with a musician. The energy and excitement caused one participant to fall off the float, leading to a brawl in which people started throwing tomatoes from a nearby vegetable stand. The following year, the young people repeated the event, bringing their own tomatoes. Although the police initially broke up the event, it continued to grow in popularity and was eventually sanctioned by the town in 1957.

The Festival

The festival begins around 10 AM with the "palo jabón," a greasy pole with a ham at the top. Participants attempt to climb the pole to retrieve the ham, and once someone succeeds, a signal is given for the tomato fight to begin. Trucks haul the tomatoes into the town square, and the fight lasts for about an hour. By the end, the streets are covered in tomato pulp.

Rules

There are several rules to ensure the safety of participants:

• Tomatoes must be squashed before throwing to avoid injuries.
• No other objects except tomatoes are allowed.
• Participants must make way for the trucks.
• The fight must stop after the second signal.
• Participants are advised to wear goggles and gloves.

Impact

La Tomatina has become a major tourist attraction, drawing thousands of visitors from around the world. The event has inspired similar celebrations in other parts of the world, including the United States, Colombia, and China.

Related Pages

• Buñol
• Valencia
• Spain
• Tomato
• Festival

See Also

• List of festivals in Spain
• Cultural tourism
• Food fight