La Tomatina
Posted in Uncategorized on 04/04/2009 10:30 am by Maria LilethDo you want to vent out your anger? Go to Buñol, Spain during their La Tomatina. You can hit anyone there with all your might. You can definitely release your emotion right there in the square.
But seriously, La Tomatina is a yearly festivity for their Patron Saints, St. Bertrand and Virgin Mary (honoured as Mare de Déu dels Desemparats) in Buñol, Spain. This happens sometime in August. It is a long week celebration where everyone enjoys street parties, events and food. People tend to booze around with the great wine and whoop it up all over the square enjoying the music, the fireworks, the aromas and the contagious merrymaking of everybody.
Tourists from different parts of the world flock the town to witness this fiesta. However, since the town is so small and there are limited hotels and inns to accommodate all the touristas, most of the foreigners have to stay in the nearby towns. Then they travel early by train or bus going to the main venue, the Plaza del Pueblo.
Every year guests increase numerously. First timers may come out of curiosity from the tales of friends. But they will come again the following year bringing another curious buddy who will surely get captivated by the festive atmosphere of the place just like anyone else.
The people seem stimulated over the long week of indulgence in the summer night parties. The finale appears so enthralling. The throwing of tomatoes and running in frenzy really bring exuberance plus the fact that you are attending the world’s largest food fight.
The tomato brawling starts around noon when everyone is already intoxicated with rose wine which is served early, several truck loads of tomatoes are wheeled in the town square. The people at the sight of this red fleshy and pulpy fruit begin to chant. Drunken men and women are aroused by the insipid cheers of the locals who also instigate the tomato fight. As they got carried away by the cheers and also excitements heightened up, every person begins throwing the red fruit to one another at the signal of firing a water cannon.
But of course, few rules are observed prior to the food fight. First, the participants are urged to wear safety google and gloves for protection. Second, you bring nothing in the midst of the hurling. No bottles of wine, no glass, no nothing in order to ensure safety. And last, tomatoes must be squashed before you fling it at someone.
This will last for an hour. The water cannon will be launched again indicating the end of it. Messy must be from all the tomatoes you got from an hour of throwing and running but as sure as the sun rises in the east, people will always look forward to the next La Tomatina festival. The thrill and the high spirits that you get are worth it. Certainly, after you leave Buñol you start planning your next trip coming back bringing more friends who will surely love it.
