La Tomatina, Spain

      Here goes my second entry which will explain more about the first unique festival that have been celebrated in Valencian town of Bunol, a town located 30km from the Mediterranean over the years. La Tomatina is a food fight festival in which participants will throw the tomatoes and they involved in the tomato fight just for fun and to entertain themselves.La Tomatino is celebrated on the last Wednesday of August each year. Thousands upon thousands of people make their way from all corners of the world to join the La Tomatina festival. 

   

      This festival has been announced as the “World’s Biggest Food Fight” because more than one hundred metric tons over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets.

The first event of this festival usually started around 10 a.m where the participant needs to climb the palo jabon which similar to greasy pole. Technically the festival will not begin until one brave soul manages to reach the top of a two-story high, greased-up wooden pole and reached the coveted ham at the top. As this happens, the participants started to singing and dancing and get showered in water from hoses. The firing of water cannons is the signal for the beginning of the fight. Once it begins, the battle generally every man of himself. After that, there will be several trucks throw the tomatoes in abundance in the Plaza del Pueblo. The participants are recommended to wear goggles and gloves in order to prevent injuries.

     After one hour, the fight will end with the firing of the second shot and the fire trucks will hose down the streets and the participant to remove the tomato paste from their bodies. After the cleaning process end, the village cobblestone streets will be pristine to prevent infection.
    
The city council has set up some rules that must be followed by every participant for their safety.

1.      The tomatoes must be squashed before throwing to prevent injuries
2.      No other projectiles except tomatoes are allowed.
3.      The festival doesn't allow ripping off T shirts.
4.      Participants have to give way to the trucks and Lorries.
5.      After the second shot indicative of ending the tomato hurl, no tomatoes should be   thrown.

     From the declaration above I believe the festival is the most awaited by Spanish and below I will attach some of the pictures throughout the festival takes place.

The process of preparing the Palo Jabon

The participants throwing tomatoes from the truck

The Tomatoes fight

This is how the cleaning process takes place

So, this is a bit of info about the uniqueness of the festival which was held in Spain over the years that I can share with you. Hoping that it will increase your general knowledge about the festival in other countries. Until my next post. 

Thank you readers :)

*Since the number of participants increased year after year as well as the excitement about La Tomatina Festival, in 2002, La Tomatina of Buñol was declared Festivity of International Tourist Interest by the Secretary Department of Tourism due to its success.