Busabout Adventures

Spain has some crazy festivals, but La Tomatina wins the award hands-down for the craziest and the messiest. On the last Wednesday in August each year, the inconsequential town of Buñol holds the worlds largest organised tomato fight. Buñol is located in the region known as the "Communidad de Valencia", 30 miles west of Spain's third largest city Valencia.

As attention to and publicity about the festival increases, the event continues to grow. More than 20 000 people are expected to attend this year.

What makes La Tomatina different from so many other Spanish fiestas is that it has no religious significance whatsoever.
The first tomato fight was held on a much smaller scale back in 1944. There are several theories as to how the first 'guerra roja' (red war) came about, one being that it did not begin as a friendly event but developed as a dispute between neighbours. The disagreement progressed from a verbal slagging to an outright food-fight, re-enacted in the following years as a way to dispose of surplus tomatoes.

This year the festival falls on the 27th August, with the action commencing around 11am in the Plaza del Pueblo. As crowds pour in, the locals prepare for the onslaught of tomatoes by covering storefronts and houses with huge sheets of plastic. Hoses are brought out and revellers are doused in water as a prelude to the event. At this stage, it is tradition to take off your shirt, tie it in a knot and wave it in the air. Anticipation, excitement, and that typical fiesta atmosphere that only the Spaniards can generate, fills the air. The chanting begins:

"Necesito fruta! Damelo tomates!"
(I need fruit! Give me tomatoes!)
"Tomates! Tomates! Tomates!"

At midday, a rocket roars through the town as six or seven lorries roll in loaded with ammunition. With tonnes of tomatoes on hand the war begins with reckless abandon. Anyone and everyone is a target. Like all Spanish fiestas, this is no time to be reserved - survival in the 'guerra' (war) is only possible through retaliation. So go on - start pelting back those tomatoes!

• There is no political or religious significance to La Tomatina, it's just good, messy fun.
• The Communidad provides 150 000 tomatoes for the event.
• The onslaught lasts for an hour, with ceasefire announced with a roar of the cannon. By this time everyone is red, sticky and knee-deep in tomato pulp! Then the clean-up begins. Locals hose down the participants while they descend to the river, where temporary showers are set up. Like all sports - and I guess a tomato fight can be classed as a sport - there are a few rules that participants must abide by. The primary rule is that only tomatoes can be used in the 'batalla' (battle), and all tomatoes must be squished in your hand before they are pelted. To prevent serious injuries, bottles and water-bombs are strictly forbidden - people end up battered enough from the tomatoes.
• And if you were not quite sure - yep, tomatoes definitely do stain your clothes, so only wear clothing you're happy to throw in the bin afterwards. The acidic juice in tomatoes can sting your eyes, so some participants prefer to don safety glasses or goggles.
• If you are taking a camera, cover it in some kind of plastic bag, as it could easily get wet, sticky or damaged or opt for the disposable waterproof variety. Any other valuables are best left in a locker or in your hotel.
• After the battle, you can hose off the splatter on the riverbank, where the town puts together makeshift public showers.

La Tomatina has grown to such a grand scale in Buñol that the locals have organised a week long fiesta surrounding the event. A fair, fireworks, food, drinking, music and dancing form the celebration for revellers leading up to the big event. When planning to attend La Tomatina, an advisable option is to base yourself in Valencia or surrounding villages, as there are very few pensions in tiny Buñol.