In Singular Spain we would like you give you a brief introduction to the most dangerous and international Spanish celebration: Los Sanfermines in Pamplona. We say that it is the most dangerous because, in fact, 15 people have died since 1922 in the running of the bulls (not counting the people who have died because they have fallen out of the city walls because they were drunk).
In this little guide we give you, you can see the highlights of a celebration that every year attracts more visitors, especially foreigners, who for the most part jump from the “Fuente de Navarrería”, popularly known as “La Fuente de los Guiris” (The Fountain of Foreigners, in English) or take part in the running of the bulls, which give them an adrenaline rush.
Enjoy all this moments in San Fermin:
Origin: the Middle Ages (although it has acquired its current fame thanks in part to the American writer Ernest Hemingway). This celebration is the result of combining the religious festivities in honor to San Fermin, the bullfights and the old trade fairs.
Duration: the main week begin on July 6th at midday with the “chupinazo”, a rocket which announces the beginning of it and ends on July 14th at midnight with the “Pobre de Mí” (Poor me, in English), a song of farewell.
Clothing: White T-shirt and trousers with a red scarf around the neck. The scarf symbolizes the death of San Fermín, which was beheaded.
We highlight: the running of the bulls, which lasts approximately three minutes. The most special moment occurs when the bulls are in Calle Estafeta (Estafeta Street, in English), where many bulls run off when they turn to Calle Mercaderes (Merchants Street, in English).
A piece of data: Pamplona passes from 190,000 inhabitants to 2,800,000 during these days, so you have to book your hotel room in advance.
In 2012…: the “Riau-Riau” is recovered. It is a mixture of chants and dances of the locals during the tour of the authorities from the town hall to San Lorenzo Hermitage, where is San Fermín’s statue. Bad people from Pamplona took advantage of this situation to make their protests years ago, so this part of the celebration has been suspended since the 1990s.
Bad things…: since many people get drunk during these days, some fall out of the city walls, which causes them to be badly injured or even death to some of them.
And as the men who take part in the running of the bulls say: Viva San Fermin! Gora San Fermin!
