Visitors from different countries gather each year in Buñol, Spain, for the world’s largest tomato fight known as “La Tomatina.”
Over a hundred tons of fresh tomatoes arrived early Wednesday to provide enough ammo for the thousands of participants that attended the colorful party. Some visitors wore plain shirts, other were shirtless, and others were comically dressed in fancy outfits.
The world’s largest food fight
Tomatoes are squished slightly before throwing to avoid any chance of injury. Visitors often wear protective goggles to avoid getting fruit in their eyes, but many like to go to the beaches of the Mediterranean to wash off the pulp and spend the rest of the day under the and having a good time.
The tradition started in the 1950’s. Some believe that the people of Buñol attacked the city’s politicians with tomatoes as they were giving an unpopular speech, but La Tomatina’s organizers assure that young people liked to attend a parade were Giants and Big-Heads were the parade’s theme. One of the attendants got angry and started tearing down everything he could find, so the crowd got upset and a riot ensued. There was a vegetable stand nearby, and people started launching tomatoes at each other until authorities calmed the crowd.
One year later, people brought tomatoes on their account, but police fought to stop the tradition until it was banned a couple of years later, leading to arrests and protests from participants and fanatics. In 1957, the residents of Buñol carried a casket with a large tomato in it as a demonstration of cultural appreciation for their tradition. Thousands attended the event and music was played throughout the celebration, which led La Tomatina Festival to become an official festivity of the city of Buñol in Valencia, Spain. Since it was deemed an official holiday, La Tomatina is celebrated the last Wednesday of each year’s August.
The food fight continues for about an hour, which usually results in the whole town being covered in tomato pulp. The remnants of the fight are washed away by fire trucks alongside locals using hoses and water buckets. People also like to head towards a nearby water body known as Los Peñones to wash their bodies and their clothes. What’s interesting is that tomato is acid, so it serves as a natural detergent, which leaves Buñol’s streets crisp clean after locales have washed away the pulp.
To participate in La Tomatina, tourists must buy tickets that help to sustain the festivity. Participants cannot throw anything different than tomatoes and must always prioritize the passing of trucks and vehicles even if the celebration is taking place. Rules dictate that eventgoers should not tear off others’ t-shirts, even if most of the clothing that people bring is old and suitable for disposal. Attendants are recommended to seek accommodation with enough time to spare since the city becomes packed with tourists as the festivity comes closer. The town’s entry points are closed at seven a.m. to avoid the passing of vehicles and ensure the safety of participants.
The festival is often paired with music festivals and after-parties, as most of the attendants are young Europeans seeking for a good time in the summer.
Source: La Tomatina Official Site