La Tomatina - Spain's famous red tomato throwing festival in the world, what's so interesting?

The Tomato Throwing Festival in Spain is exactly the food war you've been looking for.

La Tomatina festival in Spanish, known as the tomato festival, is the largest fruit-throwing festival in Europe, and is held on the last Wednesday of August in the town of Bunol, the city. Valencia City, Spain. A week-long festival in the town of Bunol, Valencian, Spain. However, the special thing is that only about 8% of Spaniards participate in the festival, the rest are mostly tourists from Australia, Japan, the UK and the US.

The tomato festival is celebrated to coincide with the day of Saint Luis Bertran - the patron saint of the city, and the Virgin Mary Mare de Déu dels Desemparats. This has been a very popular tradition in Bunol since 1944 and 1945. And it was banned during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco on the grounds of having no religious significance. However, in 1970, when Franco died, this festival was held again. The festival has become a ritual used by locals to pray for a good harvest to come and also to honor the city's patron saints - Luis Bertran and Mare de Deu dels Desemparats - titles of the Virgin Mary.

No one knows the true origin and purpose of the festival. There is a theory that this tradition began with the custom of throwing tomatoes at the parade procession in festivals to tease and protest against bad singers. Another theory that seems more convincing is that this festival started when people in the town were angry with the way the government was operating here and started throwing tomatoes at the officials in protest.

Gradually, this form developed into a carnival, and became really famous after being broadcast on Spanish television. And regardless of opinions and how this festival started, it has become a tradition that is well received and celebrated year after year by everyone. Besides, there are also many criticisms surrounding the La Tomatina tomato festival, mainly criticizing the festival as a huge waste of food.

The attraction of the Spanish Tomato Festival

From 1945-2012, participants in the festival did not have to pay for tickets, but since 2013, the city government decided to sell tickets for 10 euros to help the town of Bunol have more money to organize. and part also want to reduce the number of tourists coming to the festival, ensuring the festival's safety and health.

Every year, the small town of Bunol, which has a population of only about 9,000, welcomes 20,000 to 40,000 visitors to the tomato festival. Because this town cannot meet the accommodation needs of the huge number of tourists, many people choose to stay in the city of Valencia, 38km away and take a bus or train to Bunol in the early morning to participate in the game. .

The festival attracts tens of thousands of people from around the world to participate in a harmless and extremely fun "war", with more than a ton of ripe tomatoes being thrown on the streets. Before 2013, as many as 40,000 to 50,000 people came from all over to join this giant tomato war, while the population of Bunol town was only 9,000 people. Since 2013, the number of participants has been limited, and only 20,000 lucky people can participate in this festival.

The number of tourists to the town of Bunol at the time of the festival increased rapidly. Since La Tomatina sells tickets, most people who want to participate in the "battle of the tomatoes" have to book their tickets online a whole month in advance. Also, because accommodation is limited, most tourists have to stay in the vicinity of Valentica, about 38km from Bunol, and take a bus or metro into Bunol town.

Starting early in the morning, people put on clothes they knew they could never wear again, taking crowded trains from Valencia to Bunol. Then they joined the masses heading to the city center, stopping occasionally to buy some roadside food and drink.

On the days of the tomato throwing festival, people here must cover and protect their houses to avoid damage as much as possible. Shops and buildings on both sides of the road must stretch the screen to avoid the tomato rain. Participants choose suitable clothes so that after the fun tomato battle they can throw them in the trash. A force of trucks was mobilized to transport more than 1 ton of ripe tomatoes from the neighboring town of Extremadura for the festival. And the fire engines are ready to clean up the entire town as soon as the festival is over.

There are at least 150 tons of tomatoes used by more than 20,000 people as "weapon" in the world's largest "meal" of food, which takes place every year in Spain. 2018 is the 73rd time this festival takes place.

During the week of the festival, there will be many music shows, parades and fireworks. On the eve of the tomato throwing festival, attendees will participate in a special rice cooking contest: paella.

How is the Tomato Throwing Festival?

At about 11 a.m., dozens of heavy trucks loaded with ripe tomatoes entered the center of town, the Plaza del Pueblo, with the cheers of thousands of passionate players. The first event of the Tomatina festival begins, opening the festival with the game "palo jamón". A delicious block of jamón is hung from the top of a tall greased pole in the center of town. The tomato battle will only start when someone climbs to the top of the column and brings down the meat.

Everyone started to compete with each other, one climbing behind the other, all trying to win to open the festival. However, due to limited time, in recent years, the organizers often use a magic gun to open fire to signal the start of the match and also to signal the end of the game.

Everyone excitedly held tomatoes in their hands, juggling, throwing at each other, throwing, and shouting in joy. All are encouraged to wear eye shields and gloves. In addition, to ensure safety, the participants had to crush the tomato before throwing it at others. No one is allowed to bring objects that can cause harm to others into the festival such as glass bottles, iron utensils... The tearing of clothes of others during the festival is also condemned extremely harshly.

This noisy, chaotic battle with tomatoes will last for about 1 to 2 hours. People threw tomatoes at each other, and at the trucks that were pouring in with large piles of tomatoes. The streets of the town were dyed bright red, and tomatoes were smeared on their faces, bodies, houses, and streets. The game ends when the cannon explodes again.

Soon, the fire trucks will be tasked with using water cannons to clean up the "ketchup" in the town. No one is allowed to throw tomatoes in the street anymore. The town cleanup immediately began with fire trucks entering and spraying water on all the roads. The participants poured into the Bunol River, immersed themselves in bathing and washing off the tomato layer on their bodies.

The amount of tomatoes used in the festival is extremely large with more than 100 tons. Usually tomatoes used for tomato throwing are cheaper, are obtained from the neighboring town of Extremadura and are not as good as those used for processing. Fire trucks are ready to go on duty to clear the entire town as soon as the festival is over. The police force was also mobilized to strictly control all activities before, during and after the festival, avoiding situations that cause casualties.

In addition, tomatoes are also natural cleaning agents. The Spaniards believe that, after attending the festival, the impurities will be washed away. Many people may be concerned about clearing the battlefield after the melee, but in about an hour, the local fire brigade cleared the town like never before. .

There are many different opinions about this festival, many people think that the festival is a huge waste of food. But up to now, the festival is still considered a traditional culture, a healthy activity in the town of Bunol and is enthusiastically responded year after year. A few other countries have copied this festival such as Colombia, China. Bangalore and India also held a tomato-throwing war, but it was soon abandoned because of a wave of controversy over the use of waste food.

Some notes when participating in the tomato throwing festival in Spain

Rules of the Tomato Festival

The festival only lasts for 1 to 2 hours, but the government has also strictly controlled it and put in place a number of regulations to ensure the safety of participants and let the festival take place in a fun way. healthy, primarily for entertainment purposes.

When participating in the festival, players are not allowed to bring bottles or hard objects because they can cause accidents and injury to others. Do not tear someone else's shirt. Tomatoes must be pressed to soften before throwing to reduce the impact and not injure others. Keep a safe distance from trucks carrying tomatoes. Stop all action immediately after hearing the sound of gunfire signaling the end of the festival.

Tips for visitors to the Spanish tomato festival

It is not recommended to wear closed shoes because those shoes will be thrown in the trash right after the festival is over, nor should you wear flip-flops because it makes your feet sore and easy to slip off while participating in the festival.

Bring old clothes, or clothes that you won't use again, to easily throw away without regrets at the end of the festival.

If you want to take photos to capture unforgettable moments, be sure to bring a waterproof phone or camera.

Before participating please bring a pair of goggles like swimming goggles that can seal and protect your eyes, also you need something to clean your eyes, it is best to leave your shirt under your pants, the bottom part of the The shirt will help you wipe your eyes.

If you are a woman, be wary and wear a sports bra because during the chaos many guys will grab you and try to take your bra off.

Don't bring any valuables like your wallet or passport as you might lose them. Plus, petty thieves abound here. Wear a money belt or bring a ziplock bag to the tomato throwing festival in Spain

If you're traveling with friends, agree on a place to meet up after the food war because you might get lost in the crowd.

Arrive early to find a suitable spot.

Drink enough water. August is very hot and people are everywhere. In my self-sufficient Spain travel experience, drink enough water before the food fight so you don't get dehydrated.

Watch out for the shirt-ripers. There are drunk people trying to rip your shirt off. Although it is against the rules of the festival, many people still try to do it.

Everyone loves to join a great festival. It's a chance to let loose, have fun, and indulge in something crazy. And the only thing better than a giant festival is a giant food war. The Tomato Throwing Festival in Spain is exactly the food war you've been looking for.

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