Anyone who has been in Italy for any length of time will know that the country is packed with traditions, festivals and fairs. Some celebrate food, others feature jousting competitions, and one even honours snakes. Then, there is an annual orange fight.
Of course there are the Palio horse races in Sienna, and then there is the annual orange battle in the northern Italian town of Ivrea – which is to the north of Turin.
This week’s Food and Wine Friday feature takes a look at this pretty odd Italian food festival.
Note that this post has been updated provide readers with the date of the 2010 Orange Festival in Ivrea.

Orange Battle
This juicy annual event has been around for ages, ever since a certain lady of the manner threw beans at Ivrea’s poor, who feeling somewhat disgusted at the gesture, threw the things in the street. Over the years, the beans started to be used during annual carnivals and were jokingly hurled at those imagined to be adversaries.
Well, some time during the 19th century, the girls of Ivrea started throwing confetti, lupins and flowers from balconies at the carnival processions, and some flung oranges. … Continue Reading
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