Culture

La Tomatina  This festival started all because a young man wanted to participate in a parade in the town square and wasn’t allowed.  There was a vegetable stand nearby, so they picked up tomatoes and used them as weapons.  Every year the same thing happened and police made more strict penalties.  UNTIL……….

 One year it became an organized festival with food, music and dance. There were only a few rules that had to be followed:  1. Tomatoes must be squashed before throwing to avoid injury.  2. Only tomatoes can be thrown.  3. Participants have to move out of the way of all trucks!  4. No ripping off t-shirts and goggles are suggested.  5. After the second shot is fired, the tomato throwing is over!

 At around 10:00 am the festival begins with the first event; climbing up a greased pole.  When someone is able to knock off a piece of ham at the top, that signals the start of the tomato fight.  Fire trucks make an entrance spraying people with water and people are throwing tomatoes off the truck.

 An hour later the second shot is fired and the fight ends.   Fire trucks spray the buildings and streets down to clean them.  Because the tomatoes are so high in acid, they work as a chemical and actually clean the streets and buildings in Valencia

La Tamborrada  Every year on the 20 th of January the people of San Sebastian celebrate Tamborrada.  The mayor raises a flag at midnight to start the drum parade, and the town is filled with drummers, and adults dressed as cooks and soldiers.  This drumming parade goes on for 24 hours!  At the 24 th hour, the mayor lowers the flag and the drumming ends.

 Tamborrada started because the people of San Sebastian were mocking the soldiers that were standing guard to invade from countries like Portugal, France and Great Britain.  Originally they used buckets and sticks to beat with and make music.  Today they play in honor of the patron Saint Donosta of San Sebestain.

Las Fallas  This is a loud smoky, high spirited fiesta where the whole town is literally set ablaze!  This festival is without a doubt the most unique and craziest festival in all of Spain.  What started out as a celebration of Saint Joseph; patron saint of carpenters has turned into a 5 day celebration including fire!

 The focus of the celebration is to destroy puppets or dolls called Ninots. Ninots are made of huge cardboard, paper mache, and plaster. These statues are very life-like.  They resemble corrupt politicians or Spanish celebrities and poke fun at them.  These floats take almost a year to construct and can cost $75,00 to build. Neighbors join forces to create them!

Other Festivities  Running with the bulls El Matedor (El Torero)  Flamenco