The highlight of the event is the bull run with six bulls, which commences at 8 a.m.
The approximately three-minute dash through the narrow streets of the city center traditionally attracts hundreds of participants.
PAMPLONA: The northern Spanish city of Pamplona inaugurated the nine-day San Fermín festival on Saturday, renowned globally for its iconic bull runs. Thousands of attendees, donned in traditional white attire with red scarves, gathered at noon in the square in front of the city hall to witness the ceremonial launching of a rocket, marking the official start of the festivities.
The origins of the Pamplona festivities trace back to the medieval period. However, the event gained international fame primarily due to Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel, “The Sun Also Rises.” The literary spotlight has since drawn thousands of foreign tourists to Pamplona each year for the San Fermín festival, despite ongoing protests from animal rights activists. The celebrations are characterized not only by the bull runs but also by a plethora of activities including concerts, religious processions, and extensive wine consumption.
The pinnacle of the celebrations is the bull run, which takes place at 8 a.m. every morning. During this event, hundreds of runners participate in the roughly three-minute dash through the narrow streets of the city center. The route, measuring just under 850 meters, extends from the corral to the municipal bullring, where the bulls are ultimately killed during the evening bullfights.
The first bull run of the current year is scheduled for Sunday morning. Annually, these runs result in injuries to dozens of participants, typically due to falls or being trampled or gored by the bulls. Historically, there have also been several fatalities associated with this event.
