The strangest food festival: La Tomatina

Ever fancied hurling tomatoes at your friends in what is possibly the world’s biggest food fight?

Today (August 27), La Tomatina takes place... as it has on every Wednesday at this time of year since 1945. Hundreds of people take to the streets of Buñol in Spain armed with tomatoes, pelting everybody in their path.

It looks absolutely bizarre, but also seems like it would be great fun!

History

There are sometimes costumed figures at Spanish events known as ‘gigantes y cabezudos’ – giant figures with papier maché heads, with an individual inside controlling the model. They can be several metres tall – the Spanish name ‘gigantes y cabezudos’ roughly translates as ‘giants and big-heads’.

Apparently, during the last Wednesday of August in 1945, a festival with such figures in procession was occurring, when a group of young boys decided to march with the 'giants' – and in a display of youthful energy, knocked over one of them. Angry, the man inside the figure knocked over a market stall heaped with vegetables, and the crowd began to throw the ruined veg at each other until the local authorities stopped them.

On the event’s next anniversary, the young boys started a food fight on purpose, kickstarting what is now known as 'La Tomatina' by bringing tomatoes from their homes. Although the fight was banned in following years, it still took place, despite arrests for various participants.

In 1957, the residents of Buñol did things rather differently. They carried a coffin through the streets, with a giant tomato inside, in a form of protest against the festival’s banned status. The authorities finally allowed the festival from them on, endorsing it as official, with the compromise of the introduction of certain rules.

By 2002, La Tomatina of Buñol had been declared a Festivity of International Tourist Interest by the Spanish Secretary Department of Tourism.

The event

La Tomatina occurs on the last Wednesday of August every year. It runs from 11am to 12 noon, and contestants are asked to squash tomatoes in their hands before hurling them, to make the hit less painful. Over 40 metric tons of tomatoes, specially grown for the event (they apparently don't taste that good) are thrown every year.

The strange event is kicked off by another, even more bizarre one known as palo jabón. Competitors attempt to race up a greased pole (see the image to the left) to claim the ham, at which point the main event kicks off (although it's known for tomatoes to be in the air before the pole event ends).

You’re not allowed to throw any other objects, for obvious reasons. It's also recommended that you wear goggles so you don't get acidic tomato juice in your eyes.

To take part, you need to buy a ticket. If you’re interested for the future, visit the official website here.

Have you ever visited La Tomatina? Wish you had? Or is it a waste of fruit? Let us know your experiences in the comments box below.

Main image attributed to Lobo. Palo jabón image attributed to Yongxinge.

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