You are in the province of Valencia as part of your language study trip in Spain ? If so, you’d be wise to read today’s article: chances are you’ll hear about La Tomatina! The famous festival is celebrated every last Wednesday in August—as you’ve probably guessed, that’s today!
Buñol, the site of the event
This one-of-a-kind tomato fight takes place every year in Buñol, a Spanish town with a population of about 10,000. The festival dates back to 1945 and is rooted in a legend that the locals love to recount.
The Origins of La Tomatina
A brawl reportedly broke out in the heart of the town of Buñol nearly 70 years ago, sparked by a simple shove. One of the people caught up in the commotion reportedly reacted impulsively by pushing those around him in turn, until one of them grabbed the only thing within reach to throw at the troublemaker—namely… a tomato, casually snatched from a small fruit and vegetable stand!
Celebrate a tomato fight during your language study trip to Spain!
Since then, as you may have the chance to discover for yourself during your language study trip to Spain, the skirmish is commemorated, and participants have a blast throwing tomatoes. But be careful: during La Tomatina, certain strict rules are followed. For example: tomatoes must be squashed before being thrown!