La Tomatina

My group is researching about La Tomatina which is a famous festival in Spain. La Tomatina is the festival that people throw tomatoes each other. It’s held on the last Wednesday of August every year in Bunol of Spain. Around the day of this festival, people from all over the world go to Bunol and the small city Bunol is filled by tourists. In 2007, about 30000 people enjoyed La Tomatina.

In an eve, people drink and dance together. There aren’t any tomatoes yet. In the morning of the festival, participants go to Pueblo Square to eat sweet rolls. Some people already can smell tomatoes. At 9 or 10 o’clock, a winner is decides by the competition that people climb the pole and catch uncured ham on the top. Because throwing tomatoes can’t start until someone gets the uncured ham, this competition is very important. At around 11, throwing tomatoes starts. Participants say “To Ma Te” and throw tomatoes each other. At 1 pm, a tomato battle finishes. At the same time, the city staffs come and wash around Bunol by a powerful water hose. Two hours later, the city is the same as before.

The origin of La Tomatina is a fight of young men in 1945. One of them took a tomato from a greengrocer’s shop and threw it to the other one. On the same day of the next year, the same member gathered with tomatoes. The tomato battle was prohibited same times, but it’s a famous festival in the world now. Participants have to follow these five rules.
1. No dangerous substance
2. Not tear T-shirts
3. Crush tomatoes lightly before throw
4. Be careful for trucks carrying tomatoes
5. Be punctual

Let’s go to Spain and enjoy La Tomatina!