"La Tomatina" - The day of the Tomatoes, takes place every year on the last Wednesday in August in a small town called Buņol
about 30 Kilometres west of Valencia. It starts at 11am with the letting off of a banger and finashes at 1pm in the afternoon
in the same way, the letting off of another banger.
During the biggest tomatoe fight in the world somewhere around 20,000 people from all over the world throw somewhere around 10 Tons of
tomatoes at each other, for fun.
The actual fiesta is a week long, starting the weekend before the Tomatina and ending the weekend after.
It might be a little late for this year, but if you are planning to go in the future, book accommodations early. Buņol is a small town with
a limited number of hotels.
The historical version says started in 1945. The town square was crowded with people celebrating yet another festival parade,
the "Gigantes y Cabezudos". It appears that some of the watchers showed their disapproval by pushing over the leading figure in the
parade, who once on his feet started fighting his assailants.
Now, would you believe, there was a veggie stall close to hand and you can guess what happened next. Needless to say, the police broke it
up and responsible parties paid for the damages.
Not forgotten, the following year, on the last Wednesday in August the youths of the town met again in the square, but this time with their
own tomatoes. This was again stopped by the local police and banned in following years by the Buņol authorities.
In 1950 Buņol Town Hall allowed the festival, but did not in 1951. People were arrested and imprisoned, but the Buņol residents protested
and due to pressure (you could call it "Lobying" these days), the festival was eventually allowed.
Since then, the festival has grown in popularity until now it is an international event.
Apparently, the Tomatina is not restrict to just throwing tomatoes, water is also thrown and in some cases people as well (usually into
the fountain in the town square).
It has has been known for "non participant" to be attacked in the heat of the moment, an extremely good time to reak revenge on the town officials.
In 1959 Buņol town council imposed "rules" on the "tomatina", mainly to do with safety. These include the official Start and End of the Tomatina
by a single banger, before and after which it is absolutely forbidden to throw a single tomatoe.
We must not gorget, the Tomatina is not just 2 hour festival. The week leading up to it is full of other activities forming the fiesta in which the
Tomatina was originally created.
The base rule (for those attending)
· Don't bring any bottles or any kind of objects which could provoke an accident.
· Tomatoes must be crushed before being thrown.
· You mustn't tear t-shirts.
· As soon as the second banger is fired, you must stop throwing tomatoes.
· You must be aware and be careful of the lorries which carry the tomatoes.
... and my personal advice,
. Wear a GOOD pair of swimming gogles.
