Spanish fiestas present a wonderful way to enjoy the culture and lifestyle of Spain.
These fiestas (festivals) which are held through out the year range from the internationally famous Running of the bulls of Pamplona to other festivals like the Fireworks of Las Fallas in Valencia, Festes de la Merce of Barcelona, the Semana Santa in Andalusia and the Feria de Abril in Seville. Several of these fiestas honor the patron saint of the village or the town and usually involve many street parties, fireworks, parades, communal dinners and dancing in the village or town squares.
One of the most prominent and most enjoyable summer festivals of Spain is the colorful festival of ‘La Tomatina‘ which is held in the tiny industrial town of Buñol, located close to the orange producing center of Spain, the city of Valencia. Buñol like Valencia is also well known for its fresh produce so it is fitting that it is the site for a fiesta that involves approximately ninety thousand tones of juicy, ripe and succulent tomatoes.
‘La Tomatina’ is traditionally held every year on the last Wednesday in August and it is the culminating event of the fiesta of Buñol which takes place for a week before the great tomato fight of La Tomatina. This fiesta is like all other Spanish fiestas creates and encourages much camaraderie amongst the residents of the town and the nearly 20,000 visitors who arrive here for the big food fight from all parts of the globe.
On the night before the great event the towns many small cafes and bars that line the Concurso des Paellas near the Plaza del Pubelo which is the epicenter of this gooey battle serve up many dishes that feature ripe juicy tomatoes including cauldrons of the Spanish national dish, the Paella which simmers on wood burning fires and is consumed with copious amounts of wine as if in preparation for the ‘battle’ the next day.
On the day of ‘La Tomatina’ the shop keepers around Plaza del Pubelo board up their establishments in order to safeguard them from squishy tomatoes which are pelted on all and sundry. All the revelers for ‘La Tomatina’ who are usually clad in old t-shirts converge on the Plaza to wait for the trucks that arrive filled with tomatoes from the surrounding regions. These trucks usually roll in around mid day and as soon as the traditional ham which has been placed atop a greased poll is retrieved and the cannon fired, that the red hued battle starts. At first buckets of water are thrown at the crowds from the fight instigators from within the trucks after which it is tomatoes all the way and soon everybody on the streets of Buñol are covered in the red colored slush from the many squished tomatoes which are pelted at everyone especially camera wielding tourists, some of whom come to only record this famous tomato flavored event.
The fight usually lasts for a couple of hours and concludes when every last tomato has been spent. The members of the Town Council then fire another canon to signal the end of the tomato fight after which the messy revelers who are covered with tomato mush and seeds retire to the public showers erected for the event near the river of the town.
Soon after the town is cleaned up with both the revelers and the townspeople participating in the clean up operation which is almost as much fun as the tomato fight after which there is a celebration in honor of the town’s patron saint San Luis Bertràn, which includes much food and wine and more partying. Hotel rooms in Bunyol usually sell out weeks before La Tomatina but you can always choose to stay at a hotel in Valencia and take one of many trains which connect Valencia to Buñol in order to participate and enjoy the greatest tomato fight in the world ‘La Tomatina’.
Photos of La Tomatina tomato fight originally posted by A. www.viajar24h.com
14 responses to “Ready for ‘La Tomatina’ tomato fight?”
Report an inappropriate commentAugust 27th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
Wow, this sounds like an amazing event. I love tomatoes though – I think if I ever went I’d be too sad to waste them on the fight!
August 27th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
Me too, especially the tomatoes on the wine..I love them in sandwiches with a slice of cheddar!!
August 27th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
I just finished at the 2008 festival, and although I had my camera, debit card and money stolen during the festivities it was a fantastic few hours of mayhem.
January 29th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
how long are tomato fights
January 30th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
Brandon the fights last for a couple of hours in the morning of the actual day of the festival after which the revelers head to the river to hose down. After which they all sit down to have lunch.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:03 am
Hi Anjeeta, this is a great article, this event is something to look forward to during the visit. Also running of the bulls of Pamplona is something I like to participate in. Thank you for the info, and for visiting my blog. Cheers !
February 25th, 2009 at 3:09 am
Wow Dan- Running of the bulls of Pamplona! – I would be absolutely terrified! You are one brave man!Be safe and enjoy yourself.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
this sounds really gay. why would you through tomatos at each other? you should just go paintballin.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
I agree its gay. its just another reason to run around with a bunch of guys.
February 26th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
wats up with the person bending over in the second picture…………………it kinda hot.
February 27th, 2009 at 2:21 am
@John William
@Braden Burt
La Tomatina is not a gay event at all! Everybody participates in Bunol’s favorite food fight. Dont you remember how much fun it was to throw food around when you were younger? Well this festival gives you a legitimate reason to squish tomatoes on friends and foes alike
August 12th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
This is something that I think many people would love to go do, it just looks like so much fun but I am that those tomatoes have to sting when they hit you and its a real messy thing too
August 14th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Yes Amy the event is exceedingly popular with many tourists who travel to Buñol only to take part in the mushy slushy event!
December 31st, 2010 at 1:10 am
Hi
Thanks for mention about pictures
It’s an incredible event and so curious know how started
Recommended!
50% spanish
25% from Usa/Australia/NewZealand
Then are too the fight with eggs and wine in La Rioja and in Italy fights with orange (dangerous for top models faces jaja)
Regards
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