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| La Tomatina: Google marks 70th anniversary of Spain's iconic festival with tomato-throwing Doodle | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The latest Google Doodle marks La Tomatina, the tomato-throwing festival that takes place each August in the town of Bunol in Valencia, eastern Spain. | |
| The festival, which sees its 70th anniversary this year, has inspired similar festivals around the world, including in Colombia, the US and India. | The festival, which sees its 70th anniversary this year, has inspired similar festivals around the world, including in Colombia, the US and India. |
| It is said to have started during a parade when a group of revellers knocked another person off one of the parade floats. | It is said to have started during a parade when a group of revellers knocked another person off one of the parade floats. |
| The furious young man picked tomatoes from a nearby vegetable stall and began to hurl them at people, sparking one of the world's largest food fights. | The furious young man picked tomatoes from a nearby vegetable stall and began to hurl them at people, sparking one of the world's largest food fights. |
| The police eventually intervened to end the battle. | |
| For several years after it began the festival was discouraged by the authorities, but in 1957 it was organised by a local group known as 'Los Clavarios de San Luis Bertrán', and was later taken over by the city authorities. | For several years after it began the festival was discouraged by the authorities, but in 1957 it was organised by a local group known as 'Los Clavarios de San Luis Bertrán', and was later taken over by the city authorities. |
| St Luis Bertrán, a monk from Valencia who became a missionary in South America, is the patron saint of Bunol where the festival takes place. | St Luis Bertrán, a monk from Valencia who became a missionary in South America, is the patron saint of Bunol where the festival takes place. |
| Quite what he would have made of La Tomatina is unclear as he is thought to have been a rather serious individual. | Quite what he would have made of La Tomatina is unclear as he is thought to have been a rather serious individual. |
| The festivities start at about 10am with the climbing of the Palo Jabón, or 'ham stick'. (Represented in the Google Doodle as the 'L'). | The festivities start at about 10am with the climbing of the Palo Jabón, or 'ham stick'. (Represented in the Google Doodle as the 'L'). |
| Participants attempt to climb a pole that has been smeared with pig fat in order to reach a ham tied to the top of the pole. | Participants attempt to climb a pole that has been smeared with pig fat in order to reach a ham tied to the top of the pole. |
| When the ham falls, the tomato throwing begins. | When the ham falls, the tomato throwing begins. |
| Revellers at La Tomatina are estimated to hurl about 99,790kg of tomatoes during the tomato-throwing, which lasts about an hour. | Revellers at La Tomatina are estimated to hurl about 99,790kg of tomatoes during the tomato-throwing, which lasts about an hour. |
| The end of the throwing is signalled by the launch of a firecracker, and once things are over, the streets and buildings are hosed down. | The end of the throwing is signalled by the launch of a firecracker, and once things are over, the streets and buildings are hosed down. |
| In order to avoid injuries only tomatoes can be thrown at the festival, and the rules state they must be squashed before being hurled. | In order to avoid injuries only tomatoes can be thrown at the festival, and the rules state they must be squashed before being hurled. |
| Taking a change of clothes is recommended (AFP/Getty) | Taking a change of clothes is recommended (AFP/Getty) |