Three quarters of the whole word knew about this "famous" party before the rest of Spain did, as it is a local celebration in a tiny village (9000 inhabitants) lost in the middle of nowhere. It has become an icon of Spain, even though the whole country contemplates it with the same amazement (and contempt) as many other countries do.

I fail to see why Spain is well known for something so stupid, and not for Velázquez or Pío Baroja, to name two outstanding Spanish artists. When people associate me with this absurd tradition(sorry, it is what I think), I feel as if all Americans were known just because of the famous traditional "Jackass TV program".

Of course, everyone knows it nowadays (that's the only thing China knows about Spain, apart from the Barcelona football club. It is like us believing all Chinese to be kung-fu practitioners).

Estuve en la Comunidad Valenciana por un par de meses este verano y acabo de llegar a casa hace dos semanas para empezar a trabajar otra vez. Estoy un poco triste porque me encanta España y echo mucho de menos a mis amigos. Hay muchas fiestas interesantes en la Comunidad Valenciana y la comida es muy sabrosa. Me encanta la paella valenciana, un plato con arroz, mariscos y verduras que lleva azafrán. Si no la has probado, busca la receta. Te gustará.

I think this party is one of the many reasons why Spanish people should be ashamed of their culture. If throwing away tones of food is the way we enjoy ourselves in Spain, and are acclaimed around the world for it, what kind of country we are (is this the first world'). Well, I would like to get off it.
P.D. I'm Spanish (Spain)

Maria said:

Hmmm, I wonder where you got your facts from.I hardly think that the Chinese are as uncultured as you make them out to be.

lazarus1907 said:

Of course, everyone knows it nowadays (that's the only thing China knows about Spain, apart from the Barcelona football club. It is like us believing all Chinese to be kung-fu practitioners).

Maria, lazarus knows probably more than anybody here of the Chinese culture and way of life. I am sure he will answer you accordingly.

Dunia said:

I think this party is one of the many reasons why Spanish people should be ashamed of their culture. If throwing away tones of food is the way we enjoy ourselves in Spain, and are acclaimed around the world for it, what kind of country we are (is this the first world'). Well, I would like to get off it.P.D. I'm Spanish (Spain)

Pues debo ser la única española a quién cualquier tipo de fiesta popular que no hace daño a nadie le gusta. Y digo que no hace daño ya que tirar a una cabra de una torre sí lo hace o el asunto de vaquillas y toros, en fin, eso es otra cosa, ¿pero la tomatina? Es una fiesta desenfadada sin ninguna pretensión más que la de divertirse.

(Dunia, Spanish , como nacionalidad, solo puede ser de España)

The event is held at the end of Harvest when the remaining vine tomatoes are over ripe and worthless....

Mark Baker said:

The event is held at the end of Harvest when the remaining vine tomatoes are over ripe and worthless....

Best looking guy on the forum has a point!

Heidita said:

Mark Baker said:

The event is held at the end of Harvest when the remaining vine tomatoes are over ripe and worthless....

Best looking guy on the forum has a point!

Hmm....Best looking guy.....or rather the only monkey that tried learning Spanish lol

lazarus1907 said:

Three quarters of the whole word knew about this "famous" party before the rest of Spain did, as it is a local celebration in a tiny village (9000 inhabitants) lost in the middle of nowhere. It has become an icon of Spain, even though the whole country contemplates it with the same amazement (and contempt) as many other countries do.I fail to see why Spain is well known for something so stupid, and not for Velázquez or Pío Baroja, to name two outstanding Spanish artists. When people associate me with this absurd tradition(sorry, it is what I think), I feel as if all Americans were known just because of the famous traditional "Jackass TV program".Of course, everyone knows it nowadays (that's the only thing China knows about Spain, apart from the Barcelona football club. It is like us believing all Chinese to be kung-fu practitioners).

I thought Velazquez was a famous Spanish Governor in the New World.

Hola Heidita,
Tienes razón. Yo estaba pensando en el idioma y lo he confundido con la nacionalidad.
En cuanto a la fiesta, es una opinión personal (que por cierto comparten otras personas de mi entorno). Primero, me parece inmoral tirar 120 toneladas de tomate (a mi me enseñaron de pequeñita que con la comida no se juega). Segundo, encontrar eso divertido, pues que quieres que te diga, yo me divertiría más dándome cabezazos contra la pared. Tercero, se promociona internacionalmente como una atracción turística, los medios de comunicación españoles lo publicitan como una gran ocurrencia, enfin.
Dicho todo esto, cada cual que se divierta como quiera. España siempre será diferente.

Heidita said:

Dunia said:

I think this party is one of the many reasons why Spanish people should be ashamed of their culture. If throwing away tones of food is the way we enjoy ourselves in Spain, and are acclaimed around the world for it, what kind of country we are (is this the first world'). Well, I would like to get off it.P.D. I'm Spanish (Spain)

Pues debo ser la única española a quién cualquier tipo de fiesta popular que no hace daño a nadie le gusta. Y digo que no hace daño ya que tirar a una cabra de una torre sí lo hace o el asunto de vaquillas y toros, en fin, eso es otra cosa, ¿pero la tomatina? Es una fiesta desenfadada sin ninguna pretensión más que la de divertirse.(Dunia, Spanish , como nacionalidad, solo puede ser de España)

>

Dunia said:

Hola Heidita,Tienes razón. Yo estaba pensando en el idioma y lo he confundido con la nacionalidad.En cuanto a la fiesta, es una opinión personal (que por cierto comparten otras personas de mi entorno). Primero, me parece inmoral tirar 120 toneladas de tomate (a mi me enseñaron de pequeñita que con la comida no se juega). Segundo, encontrar eso divertido, pues que quieres que te diga, yo me divertiría más dándome cabezazos contra la pared. Tercero, se promociona internacionalmente como una atracción turística, los medios de comunicación españoles lo publicitan como una gran ocurrencia, enfin.Dicho todo esto, cada cual que se divierta como quiera. España siempre será diferente.

Heidita said:

Dunia said:

I think this party is one of the many reasons why Spanish people should be ashamed of their culture. If throwing away tones of food is the way we enjoy ourselves in Spain, and are acclaimed around the world for it, what kind of country we are (is this the first world'). Well, I would like to get off it.P.D. I'm Spanish (Spain)

Pues debo ser la única española a quién cualquier tipo de fiesta popular que no hace daño a nadie le gusta. Y digo que no hace daño ya que tirar a una cabra de una torre sí lo hace o el asunto de vaquillas y toros, en fin, eso es otra cosa, ¿pero la tomatina? Es una fiesta desenfadada sin ninguna pretensión más que la de divertirse.(Dunia, Spanish , como nacionalidad, solo puede ser de España)

My friend, I'm interested to know what your repy said, I started to look up the words but I just don't have the time ...so would you do the honours and translate your reply. Many Thanks.

Mark Barker here it goes my translation (I will start in the party subject):
Regarding to the party, it was a personal opinion (that, by the way, is shared by other people of my environment). First, I think it is immoral to throw away 120 tones of tomatoes (when I was a little child I was taught that food is not something to play with). Second, to find this funny, what do you want, I had rather hit my head on the wall. Third, It is promoted internationally and Spabish medias talk about it as it was a brilliant idea..., well.
Said all that, everybody can have fun as they like best. Spanish will always be different.

Those overripe (not rotten) tomatoes would still make a nice pot of pasta sauce.

We do something equally stupid in the US after the pumpkin harvest. Launch pumpkins!