Battle of the Oranges
12th century Italian skirmish, reenacted with 500,000 pounds of flying citrusAnyone with a little knowledge of European history can probably tell you about the War of the Roses. But fewer people know about the modern day Battle of the Oranges, a fruity re-enactment of a 12th-century Italian revolt in the northern Italian city of Ivrea.
Each year in the days preceding Fat Tuesday, townspeople divide up into nine different squads. Dressed in their battle attire, they make their way to certain streets of Ivrea that are designated okay for war. Over the course of the three days leading up to the holiday, men, women and children hurl oranges at each other, attempting to "kill" the other teams.
Although the origins are historically unclear, most people know the tale of the evil marquis, who attempted to rape a young woman in the town, but was instead decapitated by the woman. In the aftermath of his death, the townspeople stormed his palace in revolt, which is symbolized by the Battle of the Oranges every year.
To add a certain level of authenticity to the event, a young woman is chosen from the town to represent the miller's daughter, who killed the marquis, and teams are divided up along common and royal lines. After the three days of carnage, one of the generals of the teams ends the war, and the event is followed by a massive funeral on Fat Tuesday.
When all is said and done, the damage is devastating. Over 500,000 pounds of oranges are destroyed during the battles, and many people leave with cuts and bruises from getting pummeled with oranges. Yet despite the violence, people keep returning to Ivrea, and it is now the largest yearly food fight in Italy.
Read more about Battle of the Oranges on Atlas Obscura...
Category: Wondrous Performances, Rites and Rituals
Location: Ivrea, Italy
Edited by: atimian