“Paint the town red” has a whole new (literal) meaning when it comes to La Tomatina, Spain’s most famous and messiest festival. Held annually on the last Wednesday of August in the small town of Buñol, this unique event has become a global sensation, drawing thousands of people from around the world.
La Tomatina’s origins date back to 1945 when a playful food fight broke out among locals during a parade. The spontaneous battle was so much fun that it became an annual tradition, despite occasional bans and controversy. By the 1980s, La Tomatina was officially recognised and has since grown exponentially in size and popularity.
This year, the festival once again lived up to its legendary status. Nearly 20 000 participants flocked to Buñol, eager to take part in the joyful chaos. Over 100 metric tons of overripe tomatoes were delivered to the town square, setting the stage for the epic battle.
However, La Tomatina is not without its critics. Some question the ethics of such an event, particularly given global food insecurity. One commenter on BBC News’ social media platform remarked, “This is an odd tradition considering the amount of starving people.” Another pointed out the wastefulness, stating, “Nothing wrong with a rotten fruit fight – but if there’s enough rotting tomatoes for 22 000 people to throw them at each other in one single day, we know there’s something deeply wrong about our food system in allowing this amount of tomatoes being considered unfit for consumption.” Others simply labeled it a “total waste of food.”
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Feature image: La Tomatina/Facebook
