Running of the Bulls - 7 July 2008

Throughout the nine days of the festival of San Fermin (the co-patron saint of Pamplona), the town is crammed with revellers from near and far. The popular image of crowds of bull-runners in white outfits and red neckerchiefs scattering before bulls rampaging through the streets represents only a part of the Sanfermines, as this world-famous event is known locally. Proceedings open in the Plaza Consistorial with packed crowds and much colourful and noisy ceremony. A rocket is set off from the balcony of the Town Hall at midday to announce the start of the festival and the action does not stop until midnight of the 14th when the closing act of the festival, the "Pobre de Mi", is announced from the same balcony of the Town Hall. During the following days, there are religious processions, planned and spontaneous street music, folkloric displays in traditional dress, and a great deal of boisterous merrymaking. Bars, with music and dancing, are open around the clock and vast amounts of alcohol are consumed. The bulls that take part in the running later meet their fate in the bull ring. To run with the bulls, all anyone has to do is enter the streets in appropriate red and white garb an hour before the start. Health and safety fade to the background when the bulls are running, but gorings are common and fatalities are not unknown.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Spain
• Pamplona
• Bulls

[badkookie]

can girls run with the bulls? because i see pure males here

[xlili]

man i will go do that in a few years.