How to Play with Food
Hungry Wednesday | The Homecoming Issue
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The old adage always goes “don’t play with your food”. Growing up, most of us challenged, but never questioned, this oft-repeated phrase. We never wondered why we shouldn’t play with our food because it makes sense not to. Or does it?
Since the twelfth century – and possibly even before then – food fights have been a celebration of anarchy, victory, and mess in many different cultures around the world. They’re a time to embrace the unconventional, let loose, and possibly get some pulp in places you never knew existed.
As the Fall term of 2013 comes to a close, what better way to celebrate than taking a page from these guys, flouting the old adage, and telling society to go take a break; school’s almost out!
BATTLE OF THE ORANGES – Ivrea, Italy
In commemoration of the townspeoples’ 12th Century victory over a tyrannical oppressor, thousands of Ivreans divide into nine combat teams for three days in February to pelt oranges at one another.
WORLD CUSTARD PIE CHAMPIONSHIP – Coaxheath, UK
In 1976, the Coaxheath city councillor, with inspiration from his idol Charlie Chaplin, decided to hold the first custard pie championship as a fun festival in which to watch competitors get their just desserts.
Photo courtesy Coventry Telegraph
LA TOMATINA – Many different locations but originating in Buñol, Italy
The king of food fights. There are many theories as to how this began, the most popular of which follows the 1945 story of woodland animals stealing some watermelon, someone trying to hit them with a tomato but missing, hitting another person, and thus the epic tradition burst to life – participants often risking imprisonment or a lifetime sentence to despising tomatoes.
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