La Tomatina: Difference between revisions

Tomatina in 2006.

La Tomatina is a festival that is held in the valencian town of Bunyol, in which participants throw tomatoes at each other. Held the last Wednesday in August, situated within a week of festivities Bunyol.

History

In 1944, during a parade of gigantes y cabezudos, young men who wanted to participate in the same staged a brawl. Since about the place had a vegetable stand, picked tomatoes and used them as table of contents or a weapon. The police had to intervene to break up the fight, and condemned those responsible to pay the damages incurred.

The following year the young people repeated the argument, only this time took the tomatoes from their home. They were again dissolved by the police. After repeating this in subsequent years, the party was, albeit unofficial, established. [Edit] Changes throughout its history

In 1950, the council allowed the party, however, opposed the next year, to be detained some participants. These were quickly released thanks to pressure from the neighbors.

The feast was finally allowed, and the launch of tomatoes were added other ways, such as spraying water and even get in fountains to rivals. Between the noise, participants typically primed with those who were mere spectators, including relevant personalities, so in 1957 he returned to the party banned under penalties including imprisonment.

In that year, the neighbors decided to organize what they called "the funeral of tomato", which came in a procession carrying a coffin with a great tomato, accompanied by the band that played funeral marches in its path.

In 1959 the town finally approved the Tomatina, but imposed a rule that could only throw tomatoes after it sounded a case and should end when sounded a second.

Between 1975 and 1980 the festival was organized by the ordeal of San Luis Bertran, who were those who took the tomatoes, because before each participant bringing their own home.

The party became popular in Spain thanks to Javier Basilio report issued in the RTVE Informe Semanal in 1983.

Since 1980 the City Council who provides participants tomatoes, each year greater than the number of tons of tomatoes used, as well as visitors.

In 2002 he was declared a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest. From 2008 has soundtrack, the song of the Tomatina "Todo es del mismo color" created by the bunyolense rock band "Malsujeto".

Description

Preparing the "palo jabón".

Throwing tomatoes from a truck.

People on the mantle of tomatoes.

Around 10 am begins the first event of the Tomatina. It is the"palo jabón", similar to the greasy pole, which is to climb a greased pole with a ham on top. As this happens, the group works in a frenzy of singing and dancing while showering with hoses. Once someone is able to drop the ham off the bat, given the starting signal. The signal for the onset is at about 11 when the casing rings, and chaos begins. Several trucks throw tomatoes in abundance in the Plaza del Pueblo. The tomatoes come from Extremadura, where they are less expensive and are grown specifically for the holidays, as they are not in good taste for consumption. For the participants recommended the use of goggles and gloves. The tomatoes must be crushed before being thrown to not hurt anyone. After exactly one hour, the fight ends the firing of the second case announcing the final. The whole square is colored red and form rivers of tomato juice. The process of street cleaning is done by fire trucks. Participants used hoses neighbors give them to remove the tomato paste to the body. Some come to the pool of “los peñones” to wash. After cleaning the village streets are cobblestone, are pristine due to the acidity of tomato disinfect and thoroughly clean all surfaces.

Trivia

La Tomatina Buñol has inspired similar celebrations in other parts of the world:

- In the Colombian town of Sutamarchán that since 2004, they had a surplus harvest of tomatoes, are celebrating their particular tomatine on 15 June.

"In the town of Dongguan in southern Guangdong province in China, the tomato fight held on 19 October, coming to spend up to 15 tons of tomatoes.

"The City of Reno, Nevada in the United States also has an annual hour long tomato fight that started in 2009. The event seems to take place on the last Sunday of August in Reno, and is put on by the American Cancer Society. Organizers also named the festival La Tomatina, and give full credit of the idea to the Spanish festival.

The video game company Namco has included in the 6th installment of the saga Tekken fighting game, a scenario that mimics the Tomatina buñolense.

Controversy

Like other festivals the Tomatina has its detractors who handle arguments that it is a waste of food. [Citation needed]

See also

• Ivrea orange battle

External links

• Official Tomatina site
• Helpful suggestions and safety tips for La Tomatina
• Tomatina: World's Biggest Food Fight - slideshow by Life magazine