In the days leading up to Shrove Tuesday, the little Italian town of Ivrea, near Turin, is the place to be if an event performed with zest appeals to you.
Yes, it’s the annual Battle of the Oranges. The townsfolk pelt a team wearing protective clothing with oranges. It’s a tradition that has been going on since the 12th century and is supposed to represent the uprising of the locals after a miller’s daughter called Violetta cut off the head of an evil lord who had attempted to rape her on the eve of her wedding. She cut off his head and presented it to the townsfolk who showed their gratitude by storming the castle and razing it to the ground. The oranges represent the lord’s head.
Over a million oranges are used during the event, all imported from Sicily and all would have been discarded.
Sounds fun.
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