Published By: Sougata Dutta

San Fermin Festival

A thrill, carrying the fragrance of medieval Europe

The Festival of San Fermin at the Pamplona of the city of Navarre in Spain is Europe’s most popular festival attracting millions of people all over the globe. San Fermin, who might be called Saint Fermin, as Pamplona’s first bishop, is considered a martyr of the Catholic Church, as he was dragged through the streets to death for preaching Christianism. However, Fermin's time is considered to be 300 AD, the festival of San Fermin has been found as a programme recorded since the 16th century.  The festival starts on July 6th by igniting up firecrackers, while the celebration closes on the 13th.

Some Literature

Ernest Hemingway had been strongly affectionate to this celebration since 1923 when he first visited the festival. Since then, he visited the festival several times till 1953. His book 'The Sun Also Rises' gives a profound detailing of this festival. Besides Hemingway, another American writer James Michener gave a beautiful description of the festival and especially about bullfighting and bull racing in his novel 'Iberia'.

What is ‘Must be seen’

Festival of San Fermin is popular all over the globe for several reasons, such as the occasion of setting off the rocket during the inauguration of the fest, namely Chupinazo; Saint Fermin Procession and the presentation of the Jota dance on July 7th; the 'El Struendo' where thousands of people gather in front of the town hall of Pamplona and make noise using several instruments; and certainly, the bullfighting! The bull race and the bullfighting is the central attraction of this programme that attracts people to participate in the programme from across the globe.

The Bullfight and the Bull-run

The bull-running takes place every day from the 7th to the 14th of July. It starts at 8 O clock in the morning after receiving a signal of a firecracker burst. Hundreds of people run with the six bulls on a road that is merely half a kilometre wide. Risky indeed! The run is only for 3-4 minutes and ends on the bullring of Pamplona, where they are brought for the afternoon’s bullfight that results in their killing. Other than the six bulls, there are six oxen too who act as the guides for the bulls towards the bullring. Before the running starts the runners gather and start praying to Saint Fermin for keeping them safe from the adversities of the bull-running.

The real beauty of the San Fermin festival is its homogeneity and inclusive attitudes that bind men from varying religions, ethnicities, languages and nationalities.