Running of the Bulls
The Running of the Bulls
Every year in Pamplona, Spain from July 7th to the 14th there is a huge event called the festival of San Fermin. It’s a religious festival in honor of Saint Fermin. During the festival there are parades, fireworks, bullfights and sports but the most popular even is the running of the bulls. In the 3rd century a Presbyterian man named Honesto was sent to the city of Pamplona to evangelize to the people there. His son was named Fermin. Fermin was eventually ordained into the priesthood. Later Fermin returned to Pamplona and became their first Bishop. Throughout his life he baptized more than 3,000 people. Because he was their first Bishop they decided to name the annual festival after him. Everyday weeklong event starts off with the running of the bulls. The local name for the competition is “encierro”. Encierro means to fence in/to lock up. There are 15 bulls that are released but only 6 will be chosen to be in the bullfights. Before the race beings the runners chant “A San Fermin pedimos, por ser nuestro patron, nos guie en al encierro dandonos su bendicion” 3 times. This chant is a very important part of the race for the runners. The chant means “We ask San Fermin, being our patron saint, to guide us in the bullring and give us his blessing”. At 8am a first rocket is fired and that symbolizes the beginning of the race. After this a second rocket is fired and the bulls are let out of their pen. Because the distance from the corrals to the bullring is only ½ a mil the race only lasts for 3-4 minutes. One of the longest races lasted 15 minutes and it was because a bull had escaped from the group and wandered up a side street. Obviously it is very dangerous to be in the race. Because the streets are so narrow there’s only enough room to put fencing up in certain areas. The minimum age to be able to enter is 18 because it’s so risky and so many people get hurt and/or die every year. Since 1924 only 14 people have
Every year in Pamplona, Spain from July 7th to the 14th there is a huge event called the festival of San Fermin. It’s a religious festival in honor of Saint Fermin. During the festival there are parades, fireworks, bullfights and sports but the most popular even is the running of the bulls. In the 3rd century a Presbyterian man named Honesto was sent to the city of Pamplona to evangelize to the people there. His son was named Fermin. Fermin was eventually ordained into the priesthood. Later Fermin returned to Pamplona and became their first Bishop. Throughout his life he baptized more than 3,000 people. Because he was their first Bishop they decided to name the annual festival after him. Everyday weeklong event starts off with the running of the bulls. The local name for the competition is “encierro”. Encierro means to fence in/to lock up. There are 15 bulls that are released but only 6 will be chosen to be in the bullfights. Before the race beings the runners chant “A San Fermin pedimos, por ser nuestro patron, nos guie en al encierro dandonos su bendicion” 3 times. This chant is a very important part of the race for the runners. The chant means “We ask San Fermin, being our patron saint, to guide us in the bullring and give us his blessing”. At 8am a first rocket is fired and that symbolizes the beginning of the race. After this a second rocket is fired and the bulls are let out of their pen. Because the distance from the corrals to the bullring is only ½ a mil the race only lasts for 3-4 minutes. One of the longest races lasted 15 minutes and it was because a bull had escaped from the group and wandered up a side street. Obviously it is very dangerous to be in the race. Because the streets are so narrow there’s only enough room to put fencing up in certain areas. The minimum age to be able to enter is 18 because it’s so risky and so many people get hurt and/or die every year. Since 1924 only 14 people have