La Tomatina – Tomato Fight Festival in Bunol
Welcome back!
Considered the largest tomato fight in the world, La Tomatina has been taking place in Buñol, Spain for more than six decades. Every year on the last Wednesday of August, tens of thousands of people worldwide descend upon the small town of 9,000 located 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Valencia, turning the streets into a salsa riot with people hurling tomatoes at one another.
Photo Puukibeach
It’s probably Spain’s most famous festival, and gives a whole new meaning to the expression ‘playing with your food’ — just another typical day at the Heinz factory. Although the highlight of the festival is the tomato fight that occurs on the Wednesday, the partying begins earlier in the week and carries on for 1 full week with musical bands, fireworks, food, and revelry. This is a battle with no winners, but for which all have fun.
Photo Puukibeach
The tomato throwing festival commences early in the morning as everyone dines on a breakfast of Chorizo and Rose wine. By 11a.m. everyone’s inhibitions come undone. “Olé! Olé Olé!” chants the excited crowd, in anticipation of the reverberating cannon shot that will signal the beginning of the tomato fight! 5 massive tomato filled rockets are fired into the skies above the town.
Photo Puukibeach
As the frenzied crowd chants, the first truck arrives, bearing thousands of pounds of tomatoes. Three more trucks will follow, and an hour of utterly chaotic mayhem ensues!
From this point on, it’s every man, woman and child for themselves as the event turns into a tomato slinging battle zone. About 275,000 pounds (125,000 kilos) of tomatoes in total will be hurled as the streets turn into rivers of tomato-slimed juice.
Photo Puukibeach
Photo Puukibeach
Photo Puukibeach
Photo Puukibeach
As chaotic as the event is, there are a few rules you’re expected to adhere to as set out by Buñol Town Council:
• It’s illegal to bring any kind of bottles or other objects that could cause harm.
• Tomatoes must be squashed before throwing so that no one becomes injured.
• As soon as the 2nd rocket is fired you must stop throwing tomatoes.
The standard clothing is an old T-shirt, old shorts and eye goggles. T-shirts with bull’s-eyes printed on them are not recommended. Be sure to bring a change of clothes. Some public showers are available in Buñol near the river.
To date, the town claims to be free of accidents during the tomato throwing festival.
Note the screens covering the windows and balconies. Photo Puukibeach
History of La Tomatina
The origins of La Tomatina aren’t clear, with various theories running about. One explanation dates back to 1945 when an annual parade of enormous figures with large heads (Gigantes y Cabezudos) were passing through the streets of Bunol. A pair of youngsters tried to join in the parade and accidentally knocked over one of the giants who got to his feet and started swinging out at everyone around him. The youths grabbed some tomatoes from a nearby vegetable stall and started throwing them at him in retaliation until the police arrived to break things up.
The following year on the same last Wednesday of August these youths returned to the area and initiated another tomato fight using their own tomatoes. The police intervened once again and in subsequent years the local council tried to ban the ‘El día de la Tomatina’ but with little success, as the event continued to grow year after year reaching to what it is today.
Ace canine tomato throwing companion. Photo TNPal
Another explanation claims it started as a juvenile class war between bare-footed Troskyist macarras and el-ivy leaguers staying at Papa’s summer house, the latter passing the other within tomato-throwing range. Like gangs of youths anywhere, it soon became a point of honor and a mark of tribal loyalty to make a stand at the tomato-stained barriers. As the event became national it lost its hostile edge and developed into an unbridled riot of flesh-baring bodies covered head to toe in tomato goop.
La Tomatina Festival in Buñol, Spain 2007
La Tomatina Festival
30,000 people and 240,000lbs of tomatoes collide to formulate the world’s largest food fight.
La Tomatina Festival in Buñol, Spain 2006
Sources: La Tomantina and Spanish Fiesta
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WOW I wish I was there! I’d like to throw some tomatoes
I would have loved to have been there myself! It looks like a blast!
what with the running of the bulls and tomato throwing …makes you wonder what they do for excitement down there in sunny Spain…..
great post Deborah
From first-hand experience, I can report that it is ABSOLUTELY worth going!
“You went all the way to Spain for a ‘one hour’ event?” people asked us incredulously. The unequivocal answer is “Yes… and it was worth every dime!”
Perhaps we’re easily entertained. But the plan is to do it again for La Tomatina 2008! Hope to see you there!
David, your photos tell quite the story, and I don’t doubt it was worth everything you went through to be there. An hour of craziness and a lifelong memory. I can still remember a watermelon food fight I had with a room mate many years ago that went as far as being taken outside. It still brings a smile to my face when I think about it. It would be such a blast to just forget yourself for an hour on such a large scale and go nuts
Seems like a lot of people that like to get crazy and have fun Kim, and thanks
Fascinating!
Now I know where all that tomato puree comes from
Very reminiscent of the Glastonbury Mud Festival, although it’s supposed to be a great music event it now seems to also be the annual mud fest too
You can kill me another time: http://grottynosh.wordpress.com/2007/08/31/thoughtful-blogger-award/
Tomato paste … complete with bugs and thugs, haha!
The Glatsonbury Mud festival sounds like the makings of another story
Oy, I’m scared to even look Colin. If I kill you now I won’t have to look, hehe.
Holy cow, that’s a lot of fascinating. But it looks incredible and like a lot of fun… I want to go!
Save up your pennies Tay, I don’t think you’d be disappointed
Vail has an annual Texas vs Colorado tomato fight. There are a lot of transplanted Texans in Colorado for whatever reason. I went one year, it was crazy fun.
Thanks for the info Mlankton! Nothing came up in searches that I came across in the US for tomato fights. Is there a name for their tomato fight event? That might help me to find something.
[...] staff at Flickr created the ‘sport’ earlier this year in March, it’s quickly become the most popular activity in the work place, particularly in [...]
It reminds me of dinner time in my house when the children were young
Sounds like rain gear would have been in order at mealtime, Sue
..++***++..i want 2 joined with them v.fun!!..++***++..
do u know how many people need those tomato in the world?