On December 28 every year, the Spanish town of Ibi celebrates Els Enfarinats, a festival in which revelers in mock military dress battle each other with flour, eggs and fireworks. Or to put it another way: You can't have a food fight without breaking eggs.
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
On December 28 every year, the Spanish town of Ibi celebrates Els Enfarinats, a festival in which revelers in mock military dress battle each other with flour, eggs and fireworks. Or to put it another way: You can't have a food fight without breaking eggs.
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The battle takes place between a band of married men -- Els Enfarinats -- who take over the southeastern Spanish town for a day, imposing ridiculous orders and imprisoning and fining residents, and another group, La Oposicio, who to try to restore order.
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
The battle takes place between a band of married men -- Els Enfarinats -- who take over the southeastern Spanish town for a day, imposing ridiculous orders and imprisoning and fining residents, and another group, La Oposicio, who to try to restore order.
David Ramos/Getty Images
During the fight, held in the town's Plaça de l'Església (Church Square), the sides exchange brutal volleys of eggs and flour bombs and let off batteries of firecrackers. <br /><a href="http://travel.cnn.com/12-month-guide-chinas-best-festivals-825061">MORE: China's best festivals</a>
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
During the fight, held in the town's Plaça de l'Església (Church Square), the sides exchange brutal volleys of eggs and flour bombs and let off batteries of firecrackers.
MORE: China's best festivals
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The origins of Els Enfarinats are murky but the festival is thought to be about 200 years old -- Ibi reintroduced it in 1981. And why not? It looks like a heck of a lotta fun.
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
The origins of Els Enfarinats are murky but the festival is thought to be about 200 years old -- Ibi reintroduced it in 1981. And why not? It looks like a heck of a lotta fun.
David Ramos/Getty Images
The annual event coincides with the Day of the Innocents celebrations -- Spain's equivalent to April Fool's Day.
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
The annual event coincides with the Day of the Innocents celebrations -- Spain's equivalent to April Fool's Day.
David Ramos/Getty Images
The food war is also one of a series of winter festivals, the <a href="http://en.comunitatvalenciana.com/what-to-do/ibi/festivities/festes-dhivern-winter-fiestas" target="_blank" target="_blank">Festes D'Hivern</a>, held in Ibi from December 13-30.
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
The food war is also one of a series of winter festivals, the Festes D'Hivern, held in Ibi from December 13-30.
David Ramos/Getty Images
The day kicks off in Ibi at around 8 a.m., when the Els Enfarinats gather in Church Square to hold mock mayoral elections and announce the town's new order. A whole lot of mess later, the revelry winds down towards 5 in the afternoon.
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
The day kicks off in Ibi at around 8 a.m., when the Els Enfarinats gather in Church Square to hold mock mayoral elections and announce the town's new order. A whole lot of mess later, the revelry winds down towards 5 in the afternoon.
David Ramos/Getty Images
As if things weren't gooey enough, Ibi's camo-clad men add fire extinguishers into the mix. <br /><a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/02/travel/worlds-messiest-festivals/index.html">READ: The World's messiest festivals</a>
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
As if things weren't gooey enough, Ibi's camo-clad men add fire extinguishers into the mix.
READ: The World's messiest festivals
David Ramos/Getty Images
The Els Enfarinats collect fines during their food-based reign of terror, which they later donate to charity.<br /><a href="http://travel.cnn.com/songkran-water-festival-2013-908576">MORE: Songkran Festival: World's biggest water fight</a>
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
The Els Enfarinats collect fines during their food-based reign of terror, which they later donate to charity.
MORE: Songkran Festival: World's biggest water fight
David Ramos/Getty Images
The flour and military outfits create scenes reminiscent of famous historical battles.
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
The flour and military outfits create scenes reminiscent of famous historical battles.
David Ramos/Getty Images
Those goggles would be some protection against flour bombs -- if he'd remembered to wear them.
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
Those goggles would be some protection against flour bombs -- if he'd remembered to wear them.
JAIME REINA/AFP/Getty Images
Take cover! Egg-coming! <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2013/08/26/sport/worlds-craziest-horse-festivals/index.html">MORE: World's best horse festivals</a>
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
Take cover! Egg-coming! MORE: World's best horse festivals
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Many larders later, this reveler looks as if he's about ready to be dusted off. <a href="http://travel.cnn.com/tags/festivals">Read about more about odd festivals around the world on CNN</a>.
Spain's Els Enfarinats Festival —
Many larders later, this reveler looks as if he's about ready to be dusted off. Read about more about odd festivals around the world on CNN.
David Ramos/Getty Images