On Wednesday, the Spanish town of Buñol will host the 80th edition of the "Tomatina" tomato fight, where 120 tons of tomatoes will be used during the hour-long event.
The festival draws up to 22,000 participants, with non-local attendees paying €15 (US$17.50) per ticket. Buildings are covered with tarps while the crowd waits for the tomatoes, which are grown specifically for the event. Buñol Deputy Mayor Sergio Galarza said, "If 'Tomatina' didn't exist, these tomatoes wouldn't be cultivated because there wouldn't be a need for them." This year's supply comes from Don Benito, located over five hours away.
The event originated in 1945 after a food fight among local children. It became a yearly tradition, though briefly banned in the 1950s under Francisco Franco. Television coverage in the 1980s expanded its visibility, and in 2002, it was officially recognized as an international tourism attraction. The event was only suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Participants are encouraged to squash tomatoes before throwing to avoid injuries, and protective gear such as goggles and earplugs is common. According to Galarza, "Your arms are worn out, everything is worn out from moving and launching it all."
Former participant Adrian Columb of Ireland said, "When it's going on, it's just a blur of tomatoes." He recalled the streets filled ankle-deep with puree. Once the cannon marks the end, attendees wash off at communal showers while the town cleans its streets. The citric acid from the tomatoes helps clean the pavement, sometimes leaving it cleaner than before.
Similar tomato-throwing events have been held in Florida, London, Amsterdam, Sutamarchán in Colombia, and Hyderabad in India. However, Galarza emphasized that the Tomatina remains tied to its original location in Buñol.
Source: ABC News