Food Fight in Italy: Battle of Oranges: Photo

The Battle of the Oranges is festival in the Northern Italian city of Ivrea, which includes a tradition battle of throwing oranges. It is the largest food fight in Italy.

During the event which marks the people's rebellion against tyrannical lords who ruled the town in the Middle Ages, revellers parading on floats represent guards of the tyrant, while those on foot the townsfolk.

The festival's origins are somewhat unclear. A popular account has it that it commemorates the city's defiance against the city's tyrant, who is either a member of the Ranieri family or a conflation of the 12th-century Ranieri di Biandrate and the 13th-century Marquis William VII of Montferrat. This tyrant attempted to rape a young commoner (often specified as a miller's daughter) on the eve of her wedding, supposedly exercising the droit de seigneur. His plan backfired when the young woman instead decapitated the tyrant, after which the populace stormed and burned the palace. Each year, a young girl is chosen to play the part of Violetta, the defiant young woman.

Members of orange battle teams throw oranges at each other during the traditional "battle of the oranges" held during the carnival in Ivrea.

 Men with helmets are hit by oranges during the traditional "battle of the oranges" held during the carnival in Ivrea.

 Members of orange battle teams throw oranges at each other during the traditional "battle of the oranges" held during the carnival in Ivrea.

A man collects oranges during the traditional "battle of the oranges" held during the carnival in Ivrea, near Turin.