World Today The
REUTERS/Eva Manez
Spain’s Annual Tomato Fight Returns
On August 30th, Spain’s iconic ‘La Tomatina’ festival celebrat- ed its 76th anniversary in Buñol, near Valencia. The event, which draws thousands of participants each year, involves attendees hurling overripe tomatoes at each other. The festival sees trucks pouring tomatoes into the Plaza del Pueblo. After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the 2022 edition was joyously anticipated by locals and global tourists alike. Tickets for the event start at 12 euros (approximately
US$12.60). Around 120 tons of tomatoes are used, and partic- ipants, limited to 22,000, are advised to don old attire. The event lasts for an hour, after which water cannons are used to clean both the area and the participants. Following the tomato hurling, they return to their accommo- dations, later rejoining for evening festivities. The origin of La Tomatina traces back to 1945, when an unintended scuffle during a parade led to a spontaneous to - mato battle, laying the foundation for this unique celebration.
74 Vision Magazine
October/November 2023
Powered by FlippingBook