La Tomatina Festival In Spain: The Battle of Tomatoes

In India, we celebrate the festival of colours that is Holi, and every Indian loves to play with colours on Holi, but did you know? That there is a country where people play with tomatoes! Yes, tomatoes, and you must have watched one of our favourite Bollywood movies, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara,” where all those friends were battling with tomatoes and enjoying the moment. This is the La Tomatina Festival in Spain, where people throw squashed tomatoes and call it a festival. Let’s understand what this La Tomatina Spain is all about.

What is La Tomatina Festival? 

Suggested Read: 9 Weird New Year Traditions Around The World

History of La Tomatina Festival Spain

Earlier records convey that the La Tomatina Festival in Spain started in the 1940s or 1950s, in Buñol’s traditional celebrations to honour their patron saint, San Luis Beltrán. There are some stories about La Tomatina Spain where a group of friends started throwing tomatoes in a parade, creating chaos that caught everyone’s eye. Today, the La Tomatina Festival has begun one of the biggest annual celebrations in Spain. The tradition of this festival was officially recognized in 1980.

La Tomatina Festival Spain: Entertainment With A Purpose 

Why Is The La Tomatina Festival In Spain A Giant Food Fight?

How Does The La Tomatina Festival Start? 

Once the ham is dropped from the two-story high pole, there is a water cannon signal into the air as a start. Around noon, many trucks with tomatoes drop tomatoes in the centre, and people start battling with tomatoes. The battle lasts for one hour till the fight ends. The end signal of the La Tomatina Festival is also given by the water canon. After that, no tomatoes are allowed to be thrown.

After the festival, the whole street is painted with ripe tomato juices and removed by the volunteer fire trucks or disaster management. Even the participants cleaned the area where they celebrated, and interestingly, the acidity of the tomato juices made the cobblestone street of the village clean after washing. 

Suggested Read: 11 Unique Christmas Traditions That Sounds Unreal

Do’s and Don’ts Of La Tomatina Festival In Spain:

Do’s 

• Wear old and used clothes for festivals because you will battle tomato juice in La Tomatina, Spain. 
• Find good quality goggles to protect your eyes and keep a cloth to wipe in between or you can tuck your old t-shirt in your jeans/trousers/shorts so that the bottom of the fabric remains clean to wipe your goggles. 
• Wear shoes with a good grip. If you plan to wear chappals or flip-flops, they will get easily damaged. 
• If you want to capture the moments of La Tomatina Spain, keep a waterproof and shockproof camera. 
• Squash the tomatoes before throwing them.
• Follow the water cannon signal, and as soon as you get the second one, stop throwing tomatoes.
• If you are not from Buñol or Spain, look for secure accommodations.
• Maintain a proper distance. 
• Visit as early as possible. 

Don’ts

• Do not keep hard or glass bottles nearby during the La Tomatina Spain; it may cause severe accidents or hurt people. 
• There is no need to rip other people’s clothes. 
• Do not use complicated and raw tomatoes; otherwise, it may hurt the participants. 
• Check out the grease pole with ham at the top ritual. 
• Do not harm others. Try to keep yourself as well as others safe. 

If you are bringing your child to La Tomatina Spain, do not take your eyes off them.

Tomatina for Kids: 

La Tomatina 2024 Date

Conclusion: 

Till then iViva La Tomatina! (Long Live La Tomatina!)