The annual San Fermín festival in Pamplona, Spain, known for its running of the bulls, attracts a large crowd of visitors every year. This year coincides with the 100th anniversary of the publication of Ernest Hemingway’s novel “The Sun Also Rises,” which brought global attention to the city.
During the festival, six bulls are released daily at 8 a.m. to run an 850-meter route from their corral to the bullring through the old town’s narrow streets. Participants run alongside the bulls, trying to avoid being trampled or gored.
Apart from the bull run, the event includes parades, music, religious ceremonies, and street celebrations. The festival commenced with a fireworks display in a packed plaza on Monday, where attendees celebrated with the municipal band.
Running with the bulls is a traditional and popular activity for daring Spaniards, not limited to Pamplona. In Denia, near Alicante, participants engage in the Bulls in the Sea event where they jump into the sea as a bull charges towards them.
Hemingway’s portrayal of the festival in his work made it a must-visit destination for many, with thousands attending annually. This year, a Dallas-based tour operator is bringing 1,400 people to San Fermín, adding to the already large influx of over a million visitors to Pamplona.
Despite the festive atmosphere, the event carries risks, with injuries and gorings being common occurrences. Novice runners can easily cause accidents due to panic or wrong moves, leading to dangerous situations like pileups or encounters with bulls.
The festival culminates with the bulls being killed by professional bullfighters. However, Hemingway’s admiration for bullfighting has drawn criticism from animal rights activists, who protest the treatment of the bulls during the festival.
Animal welfare advocate Brook Spurling highlighted the discord between Hemingway’s glorification of bullfighting and modern societal values, emphasizing the need to reevaluate such themes in today’s context. Demonstrations against bullfighting and bull-running are held annually by various animal rights groups, calling for an end to the controversial practices.