La Tomatina Facts & Worksheets

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Every year on the final Wednesday of August in the Spanish town of Buñol, close to Valencia, there is a food battle event known as La Tomatina. In this “World’s Biggest Food Fight,” more than 100 metric tons of overripe tomatoes are hurled in the streets, and thousands of people go from all over the world to participate.

See the fact file below for more information on La Tomatina, or alternatively, you can download our 24-page La Tomatina worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

History

• The first Tomatina took place on the final Wednesday in August of 1945 when a group of young people gathered in the town square to see the march of giants and big-headed characters. These young lads made the decision to participate in a procession that included musicians, Giants, and Big-Heads statues.
• One of the participants fell off due to the excitement of these youngsters. The participant fell into a frenzy and began hitting anything in his way. 
• The enraged mob destroyed a market stand selling vegetables. People began pelting each other with tomatoes, which were stopped by local authorities.
• The young folks chose their own fight the following year and carried the tomatoes from home. Although the police ended the early custom in the years that followed, the young lads had unknowingly contributed to history.
• Francisco Franco outlawed La Tomatina in the early 1950s since it had no religious significance, but the attendees continued to attend and were still detained. Following public outcry against the ban, the event was once more permitted with increased attendance.
• When La Tomatina was outlawed in the early 1950s, the participants—some of whom were even detained—did not have any issues. However, the populace spoke out, and the celebration was again approved with more guests and frantic emotions.
• The celebration was postponed once more until 1957 when a tomato burial was staged in protest. Residents carried a casket with a large tomato inside as part of a rally. A music band playing funeral marches joined the parade, which was a complete success. The La Tomatina Festival was ultimately authorized and recognized as a holiday.
• The event became well-known across the rest of Spain as a result of Javier Basilio’s report on the Spanish television show Informe Semanal.
• La Tomatina has gained popularity since then and is now an annual event that draws thousands of visitors of various nationalities, making it one of the festivals with a significant global influence. 
• It is a must-attend event for anybody wishing to spend the day at one of Spain’s top summer festivals. The 75th-anniversary celebration in 2020 was canceled in April 2020 owing to the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain.
• The participants in La Tomatina claim that the tomatoes utilized are unsuitable for human consumption. These tomatoes are on the edge of rotting and were purchased incredibly inexpensively from the Extremadura area of Spain.

During the Festival

• The days leading up to the combat are filled with activities, including a paella competition near the town square, tomato fireworks, various music bands, and parades throughout the medieval city center.
• Around 11 a.m., many trucks deliver an abundance of tomatoes to Plaza del Pueblo in the town’s center.  The tomatoes came from Extremadura since they are less expensive there.  Technically, the event starts once a daring individual scales a two-story wooden pole coated in grease and reaches the prized ham at the summit.
• In reality, this procedure takes a while, and the event still begins even if nobody has claimed the meaty reward. The sound of water cannons blasting marks the start of the battle, and mayhem ensues. Once the combat starts, it’s usually every man for himself.
• The battle is over after an hour, and no more tomatoes may be hurled at this point. The cleaning procedure entails using fire trucks to spray down the streets with water supplied by a Roman aqueduct. 
• The officials appear to be more concerned with cleaning the town than with cleaning the tourists; thus, some people wash at the Buñol River, while other nice citizens will spray down passers-by. Because of the acidity of the tomato, the ground is clean once the pulp is flushed.
• Most participants choose to wear white, either because of the heat or to observe just how much of a mess the tomatoes make of their attire. However, you’ll also witness plenty of Spanish men flinging tomatoes at each other while just wearing their underwear, as well as many others donning snorkeling gear or swimming goggles to protect their eyes and noses from the purée.

Rules of La Tomatina

• In order for the local government to manage the crowd size, participants must purchase tickets for the event. Each year, only 20,000 lucky individuals are allowed to attend.
• Bottles and other sharp things shouldn’t be brought because they might be dangerous and damage other participants.
• Do not tear the T-shirts of others.
• To lessen the impact, you must crush the tomatoes before tossing them.
• Make sure you maintain a safe distance from the trucks.
• You have to cease throwing tomatoes as soon as you hear the second shot.
• Put on closed-toed footwear that you don’t mind discarding later. Flip-flops increase your risk of getting harmed or losing them during combat.
• Put on out-of-date clothing or attire that you won’t be wearing again. They may wind up torn, soiled, or otherwise ruined.
• Goggles might be helpful. However, it is safer if you make sure that you have a clean cloth on hand at all times for wiping your eyes. To keep the bottom of your T-shirt clean and dry, it is preferable if you tuck it into your shorts.
• Don’t forget to seek and reserve lodging in advance if you are not from Bunol and intend to stay overnight.
• The Palojabon, a greased pole with Spanish ham at the top, should not be missed. The ham is up for grabs to whoever can ascend the pole.

Similar celebrations inspired by La Tomatina

• The “Colorado-Texas Tomato War” has been taking place in Twin Lakes, Lake County, Colorado, since 1982 and pits Texans against Coloradans in tomato combat. Additionally, the Coloradans often succeed in taking down the Texans’ straw Alamo effigy.
• Since 2004, when an excess of tomatoes is picked, the Colombian municipality of Sutamarchán celebrates a comparable ceremony on June 15.
• During the regional Tomato Fair, the municipality of San José de Trojas in the San Pedro district of the Sarch canton (Alajuela Province) holds a Tomatina celebration.
• On October 19, a tomato battle in the Chinese town of Dongguan takes place. Up to 15 tons of tomatoes are used in this event.
• The annual hour-long tomato fight began in 2009 in the American city of Reno, Nevada. The American Cancer Society appears to be in charge of planning the event, which appears to take place on the final Sunday in August. The festival’s organizers chose the name La Tomatina and attributed the concept to the Spanish celebration.
• After private organizers attempted to stage one, the government of the Native American state of Karnataka outlawed the holding of similar Tomatina events in Bangalore and Mysore. According to a comment from Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda, the “La Tomatina” celebration should not be used as an excuse to allow tomato waste. A similar event that was scheduled for Delhi was canceled as a result of the public’s unfavorable reaction.

La Tomatina Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about La Tomatina across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use La Tomatina worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the La Tomatina, which is a food fight festival that is held in the Valencian town of Buñol. It is celebrated on the last Wednesday of August each year, wherein participants throw tomatoes and get involved in a tomato fight purely for entertainment.

Complete List of Included Worksheets

• La Tomatina Facts
• Let’s Make History!
• Ground Rules
• Go Red!
• Tomato War!
• Join the Fun!
• Festival Goers
• TomaTRUE
• Wacky Festival
• Crossword Fest
• Fill in the Blanks

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the history behind La Tomatina?

The first Tomatina took place on the final Wednesday in August of 1945 when a group of young people gathered in the town square to see the march of giants and big-headed characters. These young lads made the decision to participate in a procession that included musicians, Giants, and Big-Heads statues.

Why did La Tomatina get banned?

Francisco Franco outlawed La Tomatina in the early 1950s since it had no religious significance, but the attendees continued to attend and were still detained. Following public outcry against the ban, the event was once more permitted with increased attendance.

What is La Tomatina known for?

Every year on the final Wednesday of August in the Spanish town of Buñol, close to Valencia, there is a food battle event known as La Tomatina. In this “World’s Biggest Food Fight,” more than 100 metric tons of overripe tomatoes are hurled in the streets, and thousands of people go from all over the world to participate.

Why are tomatoes wasted in La Tomatina?

The participants in La Tomatina claim that the tomatoes utilized are unsuitable for human consumption. These tomatoes are on the edge of rotting and were purchased incredibly inexpensively from the Extremadura area of Spain.

How do they clean up after La Tomatina?

The battle is over after an hour, and no more tomatoes may be hurled at this point. The cleaning procedure entails using fire trucks to spray down the streets with water supplied by a Roman aqueduct.

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Link will appear as La Tomatina Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, August 20, 2018