battle of the oranges

Every year  the tiny  northern city of lvrea lately  celebrates the carnevale  di lvrea  by staging  a re creation  of historic fight between townsfolk and  an oppressive ruler   battering each other  with more than 1.1 million lbs. (500,000 kg ) of fresh oranges in the battle of  the oranges (battaglia  Delle  Arance ) The battle begins the sunday  before ash wednesday  the  lord's  hanchmen  were  jester outfits and are evelveated in house  drawn  carts while the  commoners fright at ground level in sporting uniforms nearly  100, 000 spectators turn out watch the competition between nine squads of almost 4,000 participants. from called  book Ripley believe  it or not