The Tomatina is a very strange festival held every year in Bunol, Spain. This festival began as a joke among some people in this small town many years ago, but now people from all over the world come to join in the fun.

So what is the fun all about? The people of Bunol have a food fight. On the last Wednesday in August, when the tomatoes that are grown around the town are ready to be picked, truckloads of red, ripe tomatoes are brought to the town centre. Then, for two hours, everyone throws tomatoes at other people. All the people laugh and have a good time being naughty. There are many parties in the days before and after this great food fight festival.

I. Word List

strange: weird, unusual

festival: a large, public party or celebration

food fight: a silly activity in which people throw food at each other

ripe: ready to eat

naughty: silly or bad behavior

II. Circle the words that are related to the Tomatina Festival.

July food fight Saturday Spain tomatoes August

festival green peppers Bunol parties Wednesday

III. True or False? Write T (true) or F (false) for each sentence.

___ 1. The food fight is for three hours.

___ 2. People throw potatoes at each other.

___ 3. The Tomatina Festival is in Bunol, Spain.

___ 4. Bunol, Spain is a large city.

___ 5. People from many different countries join the festival.

IV. Word groups—Complete each word group with a word from the story.

1. party, celebration, f _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2. June, July, A _ _ _ _ _

3. city, village, t _ _ _

4. week, month, y _ _ _

5. joking, being silly, l _ _ _ _ _ _ _