Strange

La Tomatina 2009: Pics & Video From Giant Tomato Fight

by Jon Azpiri | August 26, 2009 at 03:28 pm

4316 views | 9 Recommendations | 2 comments

La Tomatina took place today in Buñol, Spain. More than 50,000 revelers crammed into the town's cobble-stoned streets for the event where revelers throw tomatoes at each other.

During La Tomatina, festival-goers grab tomatoes located in giant trucks and hurl them each other for what is often described as the world's largest food fight. Most people wear goggles as the juice from tomatoes is acidic enough to sting your eyes.

So what is the origin of La Tomatina? No one's entirely sure although it is known that it started back in the 1940s. While its origin remain uncertain, many believe it was born out of a fight between local merchants. Others say La Tomatina started as a protest against local politicians.

However is started, La Tomatina remains one of the largest festivals in Spain.

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Jordan Yerman

at 14:05 on August 28th, 2009

There are other aspects to La Tomatina besides throwing tomatoes, such as fireworks, dancing, and cooking contests. La Tomatina honors St. Louis Bertrand and the Virgin Mary, but all you care about is throwing tomatoes. I get it.

Approximately 20,000–50,000 tourists come to the tomato fight, multiplying by several times Buñol's normal population of slightly over 9,000.

Although La Tomatina has been an annual tradition in Buñol since 1944, the exact origin of the biggest tomato fight in the world is unknown. Some theories are that it started as a food fight among friends, perhaps due to an accidental lorry spillage; a class war; or that habitants attacked the councilmen during a town celebration.

The water used to wash the tomato-ized streets is delivered via Roman aqueduct.

Did you know that tomatoes are fruits, and not vegetables at all?