Thousands let loose at Spain’s San Fermin festival

Published 10:14 pm Sunday, July 6, 2008

PAMPLONA, Spain — Tens of thousands of people crowded into Pamplona’s main square Sunday to celebrate the launching of a rocket that each year marks the beginning of Spain’s most famous bull-running festival.

“Men and women of Pamplona, all hail to San Fermin,” town councilor Uxe Barkos said from a balcony overlooking the crowd before lighting the fuse, signaling the beginning of nine days of uninterrupted festivities in the northern town.

The San Fermin festival is known around the world for its running of the bulls. The mood and tradition was made famous in 1926 by Ernest Hemingway in his novel “The Sun Also Rises.”

Most revelers sported traditional white trousers and shirts with a red neckerchief tied at the front. After a night of drinking, all were covered in copious amounts of wine, sangria, sparkling wine and other drinks.

Residents poured buckets of water over the crowd from their balconies to help cool down the revelers.

Stephanie Degonda, 21, of Minnesota, said she had come to the festival for the first time. “It’s incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life,” she said.

Anna Stampy, 22, had traveled halfway around the world from Brisbane, Australia, to also see the festivities for the first time.

“I love it. I’d heard a lot about it, but seeing it in person is truly moving,” Stampy said, swigging a bottle of beer.

Marcelo Ledesma, 28, from Asuncion, Paraguay, also was taken aback. “Everyone is drunk; it’s impressive,” he said.

The first bull run is due to take place Monday, an event repeated daily until July 14, and all are broadcast nationwide on state television.

Each run takes place at 8 a.m., testing the skills and courage of the participants, who must race alongside six fearsome fighting bulls along 875 yards (800 meters) of narrow, cobblestone streets linking the city’s stables to the bullring.