This street entertainment that has been popularized around the world in the novel "The Sun Also Rises" by American writer Ernest Hemingway, officially begins with the traditional opening from the balcony of the city municipality with shout "Viva San Fermin" (Long live San Fermin) and a few seconds later by burning firecrackers. http://www.bullrunpamplona.com/
This festival takes place every year from the 6th to the 14th of July. Thousands of tourists from all over the world gather together with local residents in the central square of the town. Dressed in white with red scarves around their necks, the participants of the festival sing and dance, spraying each other with wine and sangria, while numerous curious people watch them from the surrounding windows and terraces.
During the festival, which has its roots in the middle Ages, are held religious processions, folk dances, concerts and a 24-hour sprees.
The main event is a bull race that takes place every day and is a test of courage for participants who are faced with a group of horned animals which are heavy even half ton. “It's an amazing feeling, my heart starts beating like crazy. Every time I tell myself that I will not do it anymore, but I cannot resist” said one of the participants.
Bull race usually takes less than four minutes and every year between 200 and 300 participants in the race are injured in a fall, but some are trampled or pierced by the bull's horns, despite increased safety measures. In the evening the bulls are killed and their meat is served in local restaurants.
At the same time, a group of demonstrators protest for such an event with the slogan “Pamplona: Blood, torture and death.”
Would you have courage to run with the bulls?
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