Nearly 35,000 people came out to Ivrea, Italy to re-enact the "Battle of the Oranges;" 650 people wearing medieval costumes pelted each other with oranges - setting the world record for the Largest Orange Fight.
The Guinness world record for the most people in a custard pie fight was 684 participants from the Drake University (USA), and was held at the Olmsted Student Center Parking lot in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.
Guinness World Records also recognized the world record for the Largest pillow fight, set by 3,706 participants at Minehead Butlins in Somerset, UK, as part of the BBC's Children in Need night.
Legend has it that back in the 12th century the daughter of a miller rejected the advances of the town's evil lord. She cut off his head and set Ivrea free from his tyranny.
The battle recalls the insurrection against the tyrant with participants split into noblemen and commoners with the oranges representing the oppressor's head.
In the 1930s local girls started to throw oranges along with confetti and flowers from their balconies onto the carnival parade carriages so that the boys would notice them. From the carriages the boys would throw items back.
With time the gesture of homage became first a duel and then a real fight between the throwers on the balconies and those in the streets. |
