A million-strong tomato fight – Spain’s “tomato tide” flows like a river

Editorial Team of MOOK Travel Life Network

 

It is said that La Tomatina originated on the last Wednesday of 1945,when Buñol was holding a lively carnival parade, drawing many young people to gather in the square. Due to the large and chaotic crowd, one young man fell, and in anger, he took it out on those around him. A brawl broke out, and the situation spiraled out of control as people began grabbing tomatoes from nearby fruit stalls to throw at each other and the surrounding crowd. Thus, the tomato fight was born, and it only stopped when the police arrived.

 

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

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

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