La Tomatina is a festival held on the last Wednesday of August at Buñol, Valencia, Spain. Tens of thousands of participants come from all over the world to fight in a harmless food throwing battle where more than one hundred metric tons of over-ripe tomatoes are thrown in the streets.
Approximately 30,000 people come to the Tomatina tomato fight, and 240,000 pounds of tomatoes are used. In preparation for the dirty mess that will ensue, shopkeepers cover their storefronts in order to protect them from the carnage. At around 11:00am, the first event of the Tomatina Festival begins. A ham is placed upon a large greased pole, and the tomato fight can begin only when someone is able to climb to the top and bring it down. People struggle against each other, climbing atop one another, in order to be the one to pull down the ham. With this victory the tomato throwing begins.
La Tomatina by Numbers
Approximately 30,000 people come to the Tomatina tomato fight, and 240,000 pounds of tomatoes are used. In preparation for the dirty mess that will ensue, shopkeepers cover their storefronts in order to protect them from the carnage. At around 11:00am, the first event of the Tomatina Festival begins. A ham is placed upon a large greased pole, and the tomato fight can begin only when someone is able to climb to the top and bring it down. People struggle against each other, climbing atop one another, in order to be the one to pull down the ham. With this victory the tomato throwing begins.
La Tomatina by Numbers
- 1952 - The year of the first 'official' tomato battle of La Tomatina.
- 9000 - Inhabitants in the town of BUNOL.
- 30,000 - Approximate number of tourists to La Tomatina each year.
- 38 - Kilometres BUNOL is outside of Valencia.
- 240,000 - Pounds of Tomatoes thrown at La Tomatina.
- 285 - PP Travel passengers at the 2008 La Tomatina festival.
- 4 - Kilograms of grease used on the Ham Pole.
- 3.5 - Tonnes of wet clothing thrown away after the Tomatina tomato fight each year.
- 180,000 - Litres of water used to wash the streets of Bunol clean.
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