The custom's origins are obscure, but revelers have been slinging dead rats at each other on San Pedro's day for about as long as anyone can remember...More at the Wall Street Journal.
El Puig is set in the heart of Valencian orange country, and many rats come from fields around town, said Julio Hurtado, a festival organizer. Some rat-chuckers go to the trouble of freezing rodents beforehand, so they won't get caught short on the great day, locals say...
Mr. Montesinos is critical of those who want to stop rat-tossing. "We can't lose the very thing that makes us unique," he said...
Nobody's sure what will happen this Sunday, but some animal-rights supporters have just about given up on changing El Puig. "The only reason anyone ever pays attention to El Puig is because of the rats," said Silvia Barquero, a leader of Spain's animal-rights party, Pacma. "Really, I think they're very proud of their rats."
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