Every year on the last Wednesday of August, the town of Buñol in Spain hosts La Tomatina festival. Thousands of people come from all over the world to take part in the world's largest tomato fight.
How it all began
The history of the festival is believed to have begun in 1945. According to the most popular version, dissatisfied townspeople attacked members of the city council during the holiday and pelted them with tomatoes from a local market stall. The participants enjoyed the event so much that they repeated it every year until it became a tradition.
During the reign of dictator Francisco Franco, the holiday was banned because it had no religious significance. However, it was reinstated in the mid-1970s.
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How everything is going
Now Tomatina is not just about throwing tomatoes. It is a whole day full of events. They start at 9 a.m. with a small snack provided by the Bunol authorities.
At 10:00 a.m., the so-called Palo Jabon or "My friend will go" begins. This means that you need to find a daredevil in the crowd who will dare to climb to the very top of a pole smeared with oil or soap. There, the winner will find a package of ham waiting for them — the main prize. And the jubilant crowd marks the official start of the festival.
However, reaching the target on the slippery pole is not easy. That is why trucks carrying tons of tomatoes arrive at the Plaza del Pueblo square at 11:00 a.m. Water cannons signal the start of the battle. That is when chaos begins, and it is every man for himself.
Exactly one hour after the second shot in the air, the battle ends and it is no longer possible to throw tomatoes.
Then the city authorities begin cleaning up with water from fire trucks. And the visitors, covered from head to toe in red pulp, look for a place to wash themselves. Most do so in the waters of the Buñol River, but some end up under the hoses of local residents.
Once the city and its visitors have been tidied up, you can relax and head to the La Tomatina after parties. These mini-parties are usually organized by agencies for tourists who have purchased tickets from them.
La Tomatina Rules
As with any festival, there are rules to follow:
- No bottles or hard objects to prevent accidents;
- Do not tear other people's clothes;
- Tomatoes should first be crushed and only then thrown;
- Keep a safe distance from trucks delivering tomatoes.
And a few tips
- Wear closed-toe shoes and comfortable clothing that you won't mind throwing away after the festival.
- Have a clean cloth ready to wipe your eyes if they get tomato juice in them.
- It is best to leave all gadgets and valuables at home or in your room, and take a waterproof camera with you for filming, or, if necessary, put them in a waterproof bag.
- And the most important advice is to enjoy the holiday to the fullest!
A few facts
- The festival is so popular that until 2012, it attracted around 50,000 people to Buñol at the same time. This is despite the fact that the town has a population of only 9,000. Since 2013, official ticket sales have begun, limiting the number of participants to 20,000.
- During the bloody massacre, local shop owners cover their shop windows with large plastic covers to protect them from dirt and damage.
- The number of hotel rooms in Buñol is limited, so many La Tomatina participants stay 40 km away from the town in Valencia.
- To give the festival some meaning and religious value, it is held in honor of the patron saints of the city, Louis Bertrand and the Blessed Virgin, Protector of the Dispossessed.
