La Tomatina Tomato Festival, Buñol, Valencia – 31th August 2011
La Tomatina is a week long festival that takes place in the town of Buñol near Valencia in Spain. Its main attraction is the tomato fight that is always held on the last Wednesday of August; each year over one hundred tons of over ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets and festival-goers tend to get… well, covered in over ripe tomatoes. It’s a very messy, but fun affair!
Thousands of people from all over the world descend upon the small town of Buñol to take part in this week-long festival. Although most come for the tomato fight, La Tomatino also presents music, parades, dancing and fireworks during the week’s celebrations.
The festival celebrates the town’s patron saints, Luis Bertran and the Mare de Deu dels Desemparats, a title for the Virgin Mary. The first fight took place in 1945 and although it is unclear how the event originated, it is said to have started as a children’s fight, a battle amongst local friends, or a practical joke. Other popular theories is that unhappy townspeople took it upon themselves to pelt tomatoes at the city councilmen during a celebration, and that a lorry spilled its load of tomatoes and fight broke out. Whatever the reason, La Tomatina is today one of the most popular festivals in Spain.
The festival kicks off the night before the food fight, when local participants
compete in a paella cooking competition. The next morning at 11am the tomato
You've been tomatoed!
challenge commences, the tomatoes, which are brought in from Extremadura, arrive in the central plaza to the cheers of both locals and visitors alike.
The fight is not supposed to begin until someone has scaled a two story high, greased up wooden pole to lay claim to a Jamon (Ham) that has been hoisted to the top. However, most years the fight starts beforehand, as it takes time and stamina to reach the prized Jamon. Water cannons signal the start of the chaotic fight and a food fight on the largest scale you can imagine commences.
All that take part in the fight are advised to wear safety goggles and gloves and the rule is that you must squish the tomatoes before throwing them, to avoid any injury! It’s a great way to download adrenalin, as the official website states!
Scaling the greased pole for the 'Jamon'!
The fight lasts just one hour and the water cannons signal the end, at which point, no more tomatoes can be thrown and fire engines come to hose down the tomato-strewn streets. The participants, however, are left to their own devices to clean up, most heading to the Buñol River.
It’s extremely hard to find accommodation in the small town of Buñol during the festival; so many visitors opt to stay in Valencia, where they can also enjoy the myriad of attractions this beautiful city has to offer. Lonely Planet put Valencia in top 5 cities to visit for 2011. Visit our Valencia City travel guide and video section for more information. Or check out our selection of properties in and around Buñol.
Image credits @FlickR: viajar24h.com / flydime / puuikikibeach
