La Tomatina - Tomato Throwing Festival

Every year on the last Wednesday in August, the streets of the little town of Buñol, near Valencia, Spain run red, not with blood but squashed tomatoes.

This festival (which started in 1945, though nobody seems to have any idea why) is said to be in honor of the town's patron saints, San Luis Bertràn and the Mare de Déu dels Desemparats, though the more devout may wonder what connection there can possibly be between these two saints and the orgy of tomato throwing which erupts in the streets every year.

The small town of Buñol, population 9,000, plays host to more than 30,000 visitors at the time of the festival, though accommodation is scarce. If you decide to take part, it's best to stay in Valencia, which is nearby and travel in by rail. Be prepared to get thoroughly soaked in tomato juice. It's all part of the fun.

The tomato throwing actually only lasts for an hour. At the beginning of the day, a greased pole is set up with a ham on the top and challengers attempt to climb up to release the ham. Once this has been achieved, the water cannons are fired, truckloads of tomatoes are driven into the town center, and the fight begins.

Traditionally, women should be dressed all in white, while men go bare chested. There is only one rule: tomatoes must be squished in the hand before being thrown to prevent injury. Other than that, it's pretty much "anything goes" as the streets become more like canals filled with tomato juice.

Although the festival was banned under Franco, it was reinstated in the 1970s, and continues to this day. So if you've ever wanted to play with your food - why not visit Buñol next year?

If you're looking for a way to commemorate this event, you might be interested in this article: Commemorations with Cross Stitch

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