La Tomatina - Spain

Date: Last wednesday of August

Place: Bunol near to Valencia in Spain

       La Tomatina is a food fight festival held on the last Wednesday of August each year in the town of Bunol near to Valencia in Spain. 
   This festival is held in Valencian  located 30 KM from the Mediterranean. In this festival, participants have happy time together with throwing tomatoes.

Why the throw tomatoes?

       The Spanish people use tomatoes as an essential ingredient for cooking. They use tomatoes in daily food in different way such as fresh , crushed, stewed or simmered in a sauce in variety cooking like fried eggs, chicken, meat, omelets etc. in most Spanish dinner tables.

      For the history of this festivals, there are some descriptions as below:

    The new year was celebrated just like today by France in 16th century in April 1st. But, in 1562, Pope Gregory celebrated new year in 1st January. After that, Most of Peeps people didn't know about new calender and keeping the last time new year on April.

According to Wikipedia, the festival history refers to parade of gigantes y cabezudos in 1945. The young men wanted to fight together in main square of Plazza del Pueblo. But they used tomatoes as weapons because close to vegetables stand. So, the police came to prevent of fighting and involved in this struggle.

There are some rules for safety participants in this festivals:

·         The tomatoes should be squash to avoid of injuries.

·         Only tomatoes are allowed.

·         Participants should be followed the lorry or truck.

·         Nobody is allowed to ripping T-shirts.

·         This festivals should be ended after  the second shot  indicate finishing the festival.



About La Tomatina

       The festival begins around 11 AM with tomatoes that trucks bring it to center of the town, Plaza del Pueblo, from Exteremadura where the tomato is cheaper than other places. As a roll, the festival begins when a brave soul has climbed to the top a two-story, greased up wooden pole and achieved the coveted ham at the top. 

the festival started with a signal is firing of water cannons and chaos. 

        The participants in this festival is strongly advise to wear gloves and protective safety goggles. Also, as a roll, they must squish the tomatoes before throwing for safety reasons. In addition, nobody are allowed to bring other dangers thing to festival like bottle, glass etc that maybe provoke some one into a more serious brawl. another roll in this festivals is nobody allowed to tear other person during the tomato's fighting. 

       The festival  ends after one hour and cleaning process will start with use of fire trucks to spray down the streets with water. and the participants  wash them self  and some one use Bunol River for this purpose. 

If you want to participate in this festival, it's better to get a ticket because of numerous applicants. We suggest you to ask the tourist companies to buy a ticket for you because a limited seat and accommodations for people in who come to La Tomatina. 


Have a good trip in Spain and remember me when you see the fighting with Squash tomatos.


Nika