The Battle Of The Oranges attracts thousands of townspeople. The willing participants are then divided into nine separate teams who are then dressed in long, red Phrygran hats (which represent freedom). The teams then pelt oranges at each other with great gusto – originally, it is said that beans were first hurled at each other by the participants – then apples, before oranges became the familiar choice. The event is part of a traditional Ivrea carnival which takes place in around the third week of February (in 2012, it took place between the 18th and the 21st).