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The Spanish are well known for their "fiestas" and ability to have a good time. Here are a couple of the weirder holidays that are celebrated in Spain.
La Tomatina
This is the biggest food fight in the world and occurs each August
in Buñol, Spain. La Tomatina involves throwing, smacking, tossing
and barraging friends and strangers alike with overripe tomatoes. Fire-fighters clean
the crowds and streets down by spraying gallons of water over the
tomato-covered participants. How this odd ritual started no one
knows, but locals suggest it is in honor of the town's patron saint, St Louis Bertrand. But then they need some excuse! If you want to participate, check out www.latamotina.org.
Pamplona Bull Running
The "Running of the Bulls" ("Encierro") is perhaps better-known than La Tamotina and occurs annually in July in Pamplona, Spain. The original purpose of the bull running is to transfer bulls from Santo Domingo
through walled-off streets of Pamplona to the bull ring 840 metres away where the six bulls will ultimately meet matadors. Eleven oxen accompany the 6 bulls through the streets. If you're over eighteen and in position by 7:30 a.m., you can join.
If you can't get to Pamplona or you value your life and still want to participate in a bull run then go to New Orleans, Louisiana which also has an annual Encierro in July. The "bulls" are actually fourteen scantily clad women on roller skates.
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