A Million-Person Tomato Festival Craze: Spain’s River of Tomato Madness

Text / Compiled and reported by the editorial team of MOOK Scenic Spots Travel & Lifestyle Network

 

The origins of La Tomatina are said to date back to the last Wednesday of 1945,when Buñol was holding a lively carnival parade that drew many young people to the square. However, the chaotic crowd caused one young man to fall. Angry, he took it out on those around him, sparking a brawl that spiraled out of control—people began grabbing tomatoes from a nearby fruit stand and hurling them at others, marking the beginning of the now-iconic tomato fight, which only ended when the police arrived.

 

Each year, Spain’s Buñol Tomato Festival attracts around 40,000 revelers to the town for a massive celebration, with the tomato fight taking place in the central Plaza del Pueblo.

Before the battle begins, the town — transports tomatoes by truck and lines them up along the streets as ammunition. At the signal, thousands of tourists grab the ripe, large, red tomatoes and hurl or smear them at fellow participants’ heads or bodies. In no time, everyone is drenched in sticky red tomato juice, and the streets are instantly flooded with a river of tomato pulp.

Eventually, a skyrocket launched from a balcony signals the end of the tomato battle. At this point, Buñol residents and thousands of volunteers help clean the streets. About an hour later, the square and streets are spotless once again, and the town returns to its usual tranquility, awaiting next year’s August red party.