In Bunol, Spain, the Tomatina, an iconic tomato-throwing jubilee, marked its resurgence after a hiatus due to the pandemic. This event saw enthusiasts drenched in tomato pulp, courtesy of a 130-ton shipment delivered by six trucks navigating the town's confines.
Despite its global appeal, attracting participants from continents afar, the festival saw a dip in attendance with only 15,000 tickets sold, attributed to the reduced influx from Asia amid ongoing travel constraints.
The commencement was heralded by fireworks, plunging the streets into a vermilion chaos. Among the participants was Patricio, a Mexican tourist, who exclaimed, "We have come to the 'Tomatina' because it's the craziest thing we have seen here." The local community, including Bunol's tourism councilor Maria Valles, expressed a collective eagerness to revive the tradition, underscoring a pent-up desire to unleash festivity and camaraderie.
Originating from a 1945 altercation, the Tomatina has since evolved into a spectacle of global intrigue, further cemented by Spain's tourism secretary in 2002, and inspiring analogous events worldwide.
Source: timesofmalta.com