Every year, during the last Wednesday of August, the quiet streets of a small town in Buñol, Spain transform into a vibrant tourist destination. Frenzy laces the air, and adrenaline rushes through veins as one of the most chaotic traditions in history, La Tomatina, takes place.
The tradition started in 1945, when some younger individuals joined a parade and began throwing tomatoes at one another, initiating a tomato food fight. Originally, local authorities did intervene, however the tradition caught on. Each year the locals participating continued to grow, and eventually the chaos was far too large to simply ignore. Authorities banned it for a period of time during the 1950s, however this was rejected by locals. After much protest, La Tomatina was announced an official festival, and the tradition officially continued to prevail, making tomato throwing very much legal and embedded into the local culture and traditions. The festival has now officially occurred for over 80 years, and has become greatly familiar to the citizens of Buñol, Spain.
Due to individuals’ great interest in the tradition, La Tomatina attracts a great amount of tourists during this period of time, and is usually when the small town is the busiest. In fact, as of today thousands of visitors from all across the globe travel to Buñol, Spain solely to participate in La Tomatina. In addition, various international outlets even cover the event. Local businesses, such as restaurants, shops, transport, or hotels especially tend to thrive during this duration of time. La Tomatina, unlike various other popular traditions, is not based around religion or historical events, but is more so dedicated to emotional values, joy, and entertainment. The festival carves this sense of uniqueness into the history and traditions of Buñol, Spain, increasing cultural identity and spirit among communities.
La Tomatina, despite its evident chaos, symbolizes the importance of fun, spirit, and community. The people of Buñol associate La Tomatina with cultural identity, and feel as though it is something unique that they have gifted to the world. La Tomatina is a festival that connects individuals through laughter, joy, community, and tradition. The festival has become a major cultural event, and something that allows communities within Buñol, Spain to stand out and connect with their culture in a way that is unique, and relative to them and those that they love and care for.
La Tomatina is a reminder of the love, laughter, joy, and even the chaos that encapsulates Buñol, Spain. Despite its seemingly chaotic purposes, the festival truly symbolizes the beauty of the building of a community, and the simple pleasures that unite the human species beyond borders, language or even familiarities. It is a reminder of the importance of the maintenance of tradition, of identity, of emotion, of exhilaration, of glee, of delight, of relationships, or friendships, and of values. It threads these fundamental concepts into a tapestry woven together to create culture. And most vital of all, La Tomatina serves as a reminder to us all that tomatoes taste delicious.
By: Farida Ezzat
Write and Win: Participate in Creative writing Contest & International Essay Contest and win fabulous prizes.
About the Author
