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Dublin: 8 °C Thursday 23 May, 2013

In pics: The messiest festival of the year

The annual Tomatina tomato fight fiesta in Bunol, Spain took place today. Pass the mop.

OLÉ! WHILE TICKETHOLDERS for Electric Picnic are hoping the Stradbally venue won’t get too mucky at the weekend, revellers in a Spanish village were less concerned about the mess today.

Bunol, near Valencia in Spain, is normally a town of 9,000 inhabitants. It swells to more than four times that number on the last Wednesday of August each year as visitors take part in what the local tourism board describes as the ‘World’s Biggest Food Fight’. The origins of the event are a hotly-contested subject in the area but the rules of engagement are firmly enforced:

  • Squish your tomatoes before throwing
  • Stop throwing after the water cannons are fired at the end of an hour
  • Don’t tear others’ clothes
  • Wearing goggles and close-toed shoes is highly advisable.

Pics by Alberto Saiz/AP Photo:

In pics: The messiest festival of the year
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  • Tomatina - Olé!

  • Tomatina - Olé!

  • Tomatina - Olé!

  • Tomatina - Olé!

  • Tomatina - Olé!

  • Tomatina - Olé!

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