BRITTANY PERRY
Special to The Leader
Fredonia students and community members got saucy at “La Tomatina”—a Spanish tradition involving a tomato fight—at Dods Grove on Saturday, Sept. 28 to raise money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation.
“We donate specifically to Make-a-Wish,” said club president Makayla Santiago, a senior arts administration major. “One of our former body member’s younger sister passed away from a brain tumor, but we were able to make her wish come true.”
Every year since, Latinos Unidos has made Make-a-Wish their charity of choice and use events such as “La Tomatina” to raise money. The amount raised this past week is still being calculated.
Plenty of contracting, phone calls and imagination went into the planning of “La Tomatina” — with promotions on Twitter, and in Dunkirk and Jamestown newspapers.
Despite the better promotions this year, there wasn’t a very big turn out.
The event brought out about 50 students and community members enjoying the warm autumn weather, and the many activities Fredonia’s La Tomatina had to offer. “La Tomatina is one of our favorite events,” Santiago stated. “We look forward to it all summer. I hope that it will steal the hearts of people who attend like it has for our E-board members.”
Spirits were high as traditional and contemporary Spanish music played while attendees participated in crafts, dancing, inflatables, airbrush tattoos and of course the notorious tomato fight.
“My favorite event was the tomato fight,” said sophomore Spanish adolescent education major Ben Bengert. “It was a lot of fun to be able to throw tomatoes at people. We popped them in our hands first so they hurt less when we got hit.”
Latinos Unidos purchased over 500 tomatoes to make the event happen.
“There were three tomato fights,” Bengert said. “By the third one most of us were coated in tomatoes and just sliding on the tarp collecting what we could to throw. It was great to bring that part of Spanish culture to our campus.”
According to latomatina. info, “La Tomatina” originated in Valencia, Spain in 1945 when a few young Spanish men were told they weren’t able to participate in a parade. They took tomatoes from street vendors and started throwing them in protest. The following year, Spanish youths brought their own tomatoes from home to continue the tradition.
In 2002, “La Tomatina” of Buñol was declared Festivity of International Tourist Interest by the Secretary Department of Tourism due to its success.
“Cultural festivals are important for our generation because it allows some to learn about their history as well as giving others insight on their peers or people they may encounter in their future,” said club Vice President Cody Castro. “Fredonia is a very diverse campus. We always have a diverse mix of people at our events, and it’s always great to see people come out of their comfort zone and support.”
Fredonia’s “La Tomatina” was celebrated as a part of Hispanic heritage month. Every week includes a new aspect of Spanish culture to be celebrated on campus.
This week, Puerto Rican oil painter Yasmin Hernandez will give a lecture in McEwen Hall, and next week features three days of BombaYo Music Group.
Latinos Unidos will have their annual “La Fiesta”—a semi-formal dinner dance where traditional Hispanic dishes will be served—early this November with the theme “90 Miles to Havana.”
“These events are important because we can see and experience how people in other parts of the world live,” Bengert said. “It helps bring out the diversity by sharing these parts of culture with those who don’t know about it or want to learn about it.”