BUÑOL, Spain. In a riot of color and camaraderie, around 15,000 people, including numerous enthusiastic tourists, engaged in a mass tomato battle on Wednesday during Spain’s iconic annual “Tomatina” festival in the charming eastern town of Buñol.
Amid cheers and laughter, workers aboard trucks emptied a staggering 120 tons of overripe tomatoes onto the town’s main street, setting the stage for an exhilarating event where participants gleefully hurled tomatoes at each other. The result? A spectacular spectacle of red chaos that leaves the street, buildings, and participants thoroughly soaked in a sea of red pulp.
Swiftly following the hour-long noon skirmish, the town’s efforts came into play as hoses doused the crimson battleground, and revelers quickly headed to showers to wash off the sticky residue.
This lively festival, which takes place annually on the last Wednesday of August, traces its origins back to a spontaneous food fight among local children in 1945. Buñol, nestled in a region known for its tomato production, transformed this playful incident into a grand tradition.
While the festival’s roots are humble, its global reputation has soared over the years, thanks in part to media coverage in the 1980s that transformed it into an internationally renowned event. People from all corners of the world now flock to Buñol to participate in the lively festivities.
In an attempt to protect themselves from the tomato barrage, participants don swimming goggles to shield their eyes and typically opt for comfortable attire like T-shirts and shorts, ensuring both a fun and relatively practical experience.
As a testament to its popularity, the “Tomatina” party holds a distinguished rank as an international tourist attraction according to Spain’s tourism authorities. The vibrant burst of colors, the camaraderie among participants, and the uniquely messy celebration all contribute to making this event a remarkable and memorable experience for those who join in.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
