Tomatina Tomato Festival at Buñol Spain

The Tomatina Tomato Festival at Buñol Spain 

The ultimate tomato throwing festival takes place in Buñol, Spain, on the last Wednesday in August. 

What Happens at the Tomatina Tomato Festival

While there are no official rules for the Tomatina, there is an unofficial code of conduct.  For instance, tomatoes should be squished before throwing. 

The biggest discrepancy between is supposed to happen, and what actually happens is the wearing of shirts.  Officially, you are not supposed to pull another people's shirt off their back.  Actually, anyone wearing a T-shirt soon gets it ripped off.

However, I get ahead of myself, the Tomatina starts at about 10:00 am.  The plan is that before the first tomato is thrown, someone must succeed at shinning up a greasy pole to reach the coveted ham at the top.  In practice, the water cannons discharge a quick squirt of water and a torrent of tomatoes is let loose on the crowd.  Thinking about it, what a great idea to have an early morning start before the participants could do any serious drinking.

After about an hour the water cannons mark the end of the tomato orgy.  They also perform the useful function of clearing up after the Tomatina.  One pleasant side-effect is that the acidic nature of the tomatoes has a scouring effect and cleans the streets beautifully.  As for the people, they often jump in the river Buñol to get rid of all those tomato pips lodged awkward places.

Origins of the Tomatina Tomato Festival

Although the festival has only been going since the 1940s, what triggered the first Tomatina is unclear, Will and Guy's favorite story is that a group of drinkers threw tomatoes in an attempt to silence a particularly tuneless busker.

Will and Guy's Tomato Humour

Largest Tomato

Gordon Graham of Edmond, Oklahoma, USA, holds the honour of growing the world's largest tomato, which he cultivated in his greenhouse some time ago in 1986.

In fact, the entire plant became record-setting when it grew to 53 feet and 6 inches, the longest tomato vine ever grown.

Young Entrepreneur

Robert, who was 6 years old, was looking at the red ripe tomatoes growing in Farmer White's garden.  'I'll give you my two pennies for that tomato,' said Robert pointing to a beautiful, large, ripe fruit hanging on the vine.

'No, I can't do that,' replied Farmer White, 'I can get a dime for a tomato like that one.'

So Robert pointed to a smaller green tomato, 'Will you take two pennies for that one?'
'Oh, yes,' answered the farmer, 'I'll give you that one for two cents.'

'OK,' said Robert smiling, sealing the deal by putting the coins in the Farmer White's hand, 'I'll collect it in a week's time.'

• More of Will and Guy's best clean jokes for August

See more special events :

● Special Days   ● Burns Night   ● Up-Helly-Aa   ● Groundhog   ● Shrove Tue   ● Candlemas  

● 4th July   ● Bastille Day   ● St Swithin's   ● Pamplona Bulls   ● Tomatina Spain