Tomato Madness in Spain: Tomatina 2011

In the provincial Spanish city of Buñol, residents and guests of the town celebrate the Tomatina holiday, during which everyone can launch a tomato into their friend, enemy or just a passer-by.

The tomato war takes place every year at the end of August and lasts a week. More than 40,000 people participate each time. (Although only 9 thousand people live in Buñol)

This year, 100 tons of ripe tomatoes were brought to Buñol for the celebration. Tomatina began at 10:00 a.m. when tomatoes were brought to the main square of the city. People, traditionally dressed in white, were ready for battle.

But the holiday always begins with a test: a daredevil from the crowd must climb to the top of a pillar oiled with soap and get a pork ham. And only after a shot from water cannons, you can start a war with tomatoes. The fight lasts one hour. There are strict rules according to which you can not tear the clothes of participants, as well as throw whole tomatoes.

In 1944, on a religious holiday on the street, a fight broke out, during which participants began to throw tomatoes. That's how Tomatina was born. This festival is dedicated to the patrons of the city - San Luis Bertrand and Deva de los Desamparados.

However, there are opponents of Tomatina, they are in favor of canceling the holiday. The reason for their outrage is that after "Tomatina" the city is too dirty. And even fire trucks cleaning the walls of houses and streets, it is not so easy to cope with tomato juice.

Photo from the website: www.diary.ru

Holiday in Spain - touring!