Tomatina Origin
The Tomatina festival is celebrated in Buñol.
The history of la Tomatina and of how this festival started is very curious. So if you want to satisfy your curiosity, you can continue reading.
It all started in 1945, curiously at local festivals. The party that was celebrated was known as "Party of Bigheads and Giants".
This party consisted of a parade of people disguised as giants and big heads. It was all laughter and happiness until some young people got into the middle of the parade along with the protagonists, that is, the giants and big heads. One of the young men caused a "big-headed man falls on the ground".
Tomatina Origin
The Tomatina festival is celebrated in Buñol. The history of la Tomatina and of how this festival started is very curious. So if you want to satisfy your curiosity, you can continue reading.
It all started in 1945, curiously at local festivals. The party that was celebrated was known as "Party of Bigheads and Giants".
This party consisted of a parade of people disguised as giants and big heads. It was all laughter and happiness until some young people got into the middle of the parade along with the protagonists, that is, the giants and big heads. One of the young men caused a "big-headed man falls on the ground".
Those who wanted to enjoy the parade did not like the scene at all. His anger caused a fight between the participants (the public and the young people who wanted to be protagonists).
By chance, there was a vegetable stand nearby. Vegetables were used to throw each other. Finally, the authorities ended the vegetable battle that had started spontaneously. Although they did not know it, a party that today is known worldwide has just started…
La Tomatina's history
But, this specific event became a tradition; it happened the next year. The same young people from the previous year went to the same place and started a tomato war. They were also prepared from home carrying the tomatoes.
What started as a time of tension, gradually turned into a time of fun. As a result, more and more residents were coming faithfully the same day to launch "tomatazos".
But the authorities were not very supportive of what was beginning to become a tradition. So they banned it and increasingly tightened the measures to avoid it.
Those who wanted to enjoy the parade did not like the scene at all. His anger caused a fight between the participants (the public and the young people who wanted to be protagonists).
By chance, there was a vegetable stand nearby. Vegetables were used to throw each other. Finally, the authorities ended the vegetable battle that had started spontaneously. Although they did not know it, a party that today is known worldwide has just started…
La Tomatina's history
But, this specific event became a tradition; it happened the next year. The same young people from the previous year went to the same place and started a tomato war. They were also prepared from home carrying the tomatoes.
What started as a time of tension, gradually turned into a time of fun. As a result, more and more residents were coming faithfully the same day to launch "tomatazos".
But the authorities were not very supportive of what was beginning to become a tradition. So they banned it and increasingly tightened the measures to avoid it.
Luckily, people had liked the tomato war tradition, so, due to the police ban, they decided in 1957 to create the called "Tomatina Burial".
This event was so popular, (including funeral troupe and a giant tomato) and had a lot of public acceptance, that finally the tradition of the tomato war was allowed again in1959. Of course, with some conditions and rules, such as the one to start and end the party with firecrackers.
Both 1975 and 1980 were important years in the history of La Tomatina. In 1975, the army of the patron of Buñol, that is "Los Clavarios de San Luís Bertrán" took care of organizing the party and supplying the participants with tomatoes. But from the year 1980, the city council took care of both responsibilities.
The most important years in La Tomatina's history
The year 1983 was crucial for Tomatina's increasing popularity. And it is because a television report made it famous to the whole country, so the Tomatina festival began to be better known and to receive more and more people every year.
In 2002, Buñol and his emblematic party received great recognition. The General Secretariat of Tourism declared it a Festival of National Tourist Interest.
Luckily, people had liked the tomato war tradition, so, due to the police ban, they decided in 1957 to create the called "Tomatina Burial".
This event was so popular, (including funeral troupe and a giant tomato) and had a lot of public acceptance, that finally the tradition of the tomato war was allowed again in1959. Of course, with some conditions and rules, such as the one to start and end the party with firecrackers.
Both 1975 and 1980 were important years in the history of La Tomatina. In 1975, the army of the patron of Buñol, that is "Los Clavarios de San Luís Bertrán" took care of organizing the party and supplying the participants with tomatoes. But from the year 1980, the city council took care of both responsibilities.
The most important years in La Tomatina's history
The year 1983 was crucial for Tomatina's increasing popularity. And it is because a television report made it famous to the whole country, so the Tomatina festival began to be better known and to receive more and more people every year.
In 2002, Buñol and his emblematic party received great recognition. The General Secretariat of Tourism declared it a Festival of National Tourist Interest.
The success and growth of the festival have been enormous in recent years, so the Buñol city council has been forced to limit the capacity. Since 2013, the party has been held in a limited space. Therefore, it is now necessary to buy tickets for the Tomatina if we want to enjoy the tomato battle.
The capacity limit is 22.000 people, This may seem like a lot, but before the restriction, 40.000 participants had been reached. Due to these numbers of participants, who were even beginning to be dangerous to people's physical integrity, it was decided to control the capacity and regulate it with the sale of tickets.
The success and growth of the festival have been enormous in recent years, so the Buñol city council has been forced to limit the capacity. Since 2013, the party has been held in a limited space. Therefore, it is now necessary to buy tickets for the Tomatina if we want to enjoy the tomato battle.
The capacity limit is 22.000 people, This may seem like a lot, but before the restriction, 40.000 participants had been reached. Due to these numbers of participants, who were even beginning to be dangerous to people's physical integrity, it was decided to control the capacity and regulate it with the sale of tickets.