Famous Spañish Holidays

The "Tomatina" Tomato Fight started in the 1940's for unknown reasons in the village of Buñol, near Valencia which is the third largest city in Spain. It's located near the Mediterranean coastline some two-hundred twenty miles of Barcelona. It first began as a civil disturbance that was broken up by the police, which then became adopted by the citizens of Buñol from that point on.

There are a lot of theories and speculations that the locals believe on how it truly began. The first and most believed is, it was the result of a street brawl near a grocery store, which was cause by an unpopular local politician stirring up the crowd with his new plans to run a new government. The second reason was due to a practical joke on a particular bad musician. The third is the least popular and most ridiculous of them all, is that it ws a school food fight that became adopted by the rest of the townsfolk. Whatever the reason for the Buñol's annual food fight, it now attracts people from all over Spain, and gets full coverage via international media. The purpose is to launch huge ripe tomatoes to the people around you and in by doing so you will receive an amount of serious bashings yourself with tomatoes the size of softballs. It is all in good nature although some people do get seriously injured for some are better throwers than others.

If you do decide to partake in such a messy ritual, there are some things you should consider when traveling for "La Tomatina", first it is highly recommended to bring as little as possible. With the amount of pushing and pulling going on you are bound to lose something valuable or get it damaged. That is not to mention the effect the tomato juice will have on your personal belongings such as wallets, paper money, etc. ( as well as the slight pick pocketing going around).

What to wear while at the tomato fights? Old clothes you won't mind getting dirty or damaged. White t-shirts are more photogenic due to the fact that you'll be soaked in tomato juice. "As town councilor for Paries, Fairs, Culture and Sports, Pilar Garrigues said after the festival: 'Here one comes dressed in white and should leave in red if they had a good time.' " Also during the tomato fights you will see a long wooden pole marinated in olive oil with a piece of ham way up at the top. The goal here is to climb up and once up there take a bite off the ham. My father who has participated in this ritual told me that if someone will achieve this goal, then it would be another thousand years without starvation for the city of Buñol.

The festival of San Fermin is the best and most popular event known throught the world. This takes place in Pamplona, northern region of Spain in the Basque province near the Spanish and French border. "Mention the name Pamplona to most people and the picture that comes to mind is dozens of young men dressed in white with red sashes and red caps holding the daily paper, running through narrow cobblestone streets with enraged bulls hot on their tails". Reasons behind this unexplained act of foolishness, and bravery for that matter, can be explained by the locals whom are deeply in love with the folklore that takes place every July 7th since 1591, and last a bit over a week, more like nine days to be exact. During this time the streets of San Fermin are filled with international T.V. spectators along with the many brave men who have taken upon themselves to take part in an enormous party with dancing, singing and drinking---it is certainly the most exciting week of the whole year. Some say this tradition began as a way for boys to impress local girls with their bravery. This, however, is just one of the many activities that take place during the nine-day-long celebration honoring the city's first bishop. The locals, known as "Los Sanfermines" kick into gear on July 7th with the txupinazo. This is when a rocket blasts off in front of the city hall to announce fiesta's commencement of "comienzatura festival." The goal is to run eith-hundred thirty meters of cobbled road and into the city's bullring. Once you have reached the bullring you are greeted by thousands in the stands. They do this to welcome the new coming of the bull fights. "Fiesta Taurina." Every morning, the run of the bulls is on hand and in the afternoon, the bull fights take place, which features the best of the matadores (bullfighters) versus the best stock of bulls this year has to offer.

At the end of the festival, the local Sanfermines gather to chant the old song "Pobre de mi" which means poor me. They sing their lamentations to the end of another year's festivities. The week long festival was in recognition of the town's son-turned saint, Fermin. "Livinng circa 3AD when Pamplona was part of the expansive Roman Empire. San Fermin learned of Christianity from the French bishop San Saturino, who had come to Pamplona to spread the good word of God. San Fermin found himself so inspired that he traveled to France to study and eventually become a bishop himself. When he accomplished that feat he followed San Saturino's footsteps and took to the spreading of Christianity, but on one of his stops came up against some local powers in France who were quite opposed to the idea. Refusing to abandon his cause, San Fermin was beheaded and enterred. However , parts of his remains made their way back to his hometown of Pamplona, which made him quite popular in the city. So popular, in fact that not long afterwards towns people initiated an annual festival to honor him. How exactly that evolved into the nonstop week of partying and running of the bulls that it is today remains a mystery"

Reference: Damian Corrigan , Your Guide to Spain for Visitors, "What to wear and bring to the Tomatina Tomato Fight".23/Feb/2007

http://gospain.about.com/odtomatinatomatofight/qt/tomatinaclothes.htm

Enforex,"Spanish In The SpanishWorld, PamplonaSanFermines".23/Feb/2007

http://www.enforex.com/culture/pamplona.html