La Tomatina in Spain

On the last Wednesday of August, at 11 a.m. at the City Hall of Buñol a special firecracker explodes signalling start of tomato madness. More than 40 thousand people flock to the trucks driving up to the main square, snap up ripe shells and attack everyone who is nearby!

While battle is on run, windows of cafes, restaurants and shops got closed with plastic shields. Tomato fights are not limited to the area and capture surrounding streets. Though edge of the holiday territory is difficult to determine, the time frame is clearly defined – tomatoes can be thrown exactly for two hours.

Holiday was cancelled several times by the authorities that caused a storm of discontent among local residents. In 1959 the municipality allowed to conduct La Tomatina putting forward four requirements: strict adherence to the holiday timing, it is forbidden to tear someone else's clothing, no one is allowed to use in fight anything else but tomatoes, and a there is ban on obstructing the movement of trucks.

First time La Tomatina manifested itself in 1945. Then it was just a brawl with vegetables from the nearest store as a weapon. But the following year brawl repeated, vegetables were purchased in advance and the number of participants increased several times.

Since the 80s ammunition for La Tomatina is supplied by the local government, and it significantly increased the scale of the battle having made it at least international.

The holiday ends with swimming in the pool filled with tomato juice. The next few days washed squares host Tomato Festival – the festival dedicated to harvest and the end of summer.