La Tomatina de Buñol is one of those popular festivals so expected by the Valencians. And is that participating in a tomato war is something very much ours and not everyone can say that he has thrown a ripe tomato to that neighbor who dislikes him so much.
So this Wednesday, as every last Wednesday in August, one of the most anticipated festivities in Buñol returns. However, La Tomatina 2024 has a novelty that has generated much controversy: VIP tickets for 400€.
Until now, the general admission to the great battle of tomatoes cost about 15€, but in this new edition have been released 30 passes to climb into the trucks from which the 120 tons of tomatoes will be launched. This has not pleased the neighbors, since the origin of this festival has popular roots where all the people are welcome to participate, and consider that this is an elitist measure and that goes against the spirit of tradition.
History of La Tomatina
This peculiar festival has been celebrated since 1945, when some young people were determined to see a parade of giants and big-heads passing through the town square no matter what. Because of all the crowd that was gathered and the pushing and shoving caused by the group to get a closer look, one participant fell to the ground.
As life is full of coincidences, right next door there was a vegetable stand and the enraged mass started throwing tomatoes at them. And believe it or not, and even the authorities had to intervene at the time, the people liked throwing tomatoes at each other so much, that they are now in their 77th edition. And no, before anyone throws their hands up in the air, tomatoes are not fit for human consumption.
Since 2002, this festival is considered as Fiesta de Interés Turístico and it is the largest tomato war in the world. After starting at 12 noon, the pitched battle runs through the streets of the village, which are closed for the occasion and have a capacity for more than 20,000 people.
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