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/ Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Spain´s bull runs return with thrills, emotion Tens of thousands of people donned the customary white trousers and shirt with red sash
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Álvaro Barrientos and Ciarán Giles –The Associated Press
AMPLONA, Spain (AP) — Pamplona was once again a sea of red and white as the frenzied madness of the San Fermín running of the bulls festival returns with adrenaline, emotion and passion following a two-year suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic. From the start on July 6, the tension and excitement was palpable. Tens of thousands of people donning the customary white trousers and shirt with red sash and neckerchief packed the town hall square for the traditional “chupinazo” firework that kicks off the nine-day San Fermín festival. After that, it was a nonstop party, spiced up with the electrifying running of the bulls each morning at 8:00 a.m. Joe Distler, 50 years running The festival reunited friends and families from with the bulls all over. Joe Distler, 70, from New York, has been coming and running for the past 50 years but Miller said. “So, everyone is going extra hard this says he was sad to miss the past two editions. time around and the festival is “It´s incredible. Two years bigger and better than ever.” without Pamplona was very, They, like many, also know very bad,” he said, speaking of the festival from Ernest in Spanish. “How lucky to be Hemingway’s 1926 novel “The with friends here this year in Sun Also Rises,” which is deemed Hundreds of Pamplona. Fabulous. Hopefully to have made it internationally people of all ages next year there will be no more famous. test their agility and COVID.” Martín Chozas, 76, from Spain bravery running like Pamplona’s population of was also a first timer. mad with six fighting around 200,000 bloats to nearly ¨This is like going to heaven,” bulls. a million during San Fermín. said Chozas, adding that he felt For many foreigners, especially “the shivers” when he arrived. He Americans, Australians and planned to stay “as long as the Britons, it´s a “bucket list” thing body puts up with it.” they have to do. The festival highlight is undoubtedly the “It´s amazing atmosphere, amazing people, morning “encierros,” or runs, that see hundreds amazing opportunity to celebrate. We love of people of all ages — mostly men — testing it here,” said 21-year-old Harvey Miller, of their agility and bravery to run like mad with Philadelphia, who was making his first trip with six fighting bulls and their guiding steer along his sisters, Ashlei, 30, and Kayla, 23. an 875-meter (956-yard) route to Pamplona’s “I think people are trying to make up for lost bullring, where later in the day the bulls are time because two years off, that´s a while,”
It´s incredible…How lucky to be with friends here this year in Pamplona.
In fact,
People run through the streets with fighting bulls and steers during the first day of the running of the bulls at the San Fermín festival in Pamplona, northern Spain. >AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos, File
killed by professional bullfighters. People watch the run from balconies, doorways and street barriers as well on television and the internet. On the fringes, there is a wealth of great restaurants and tapas bars, while street bands, spontaneous parties and shows for children all go to place it among the most popular festivals in the world. Gorings, meanwhile, are a feature everyone braces for but hopes they won´t occur. In the seven runs held till last Wednesday, there were just four gorings, none serious. In general, the bulls seemed content to ignore the runners unless they are provoked or teased. Eight people were gored during the last festival in 2019. Sixteen people have died in the bull runs since 1910. The last death occurred in 2009. The response to injuries during the runs is quick. People can be treated directly by Spanish Red Cross medics or in the bullring surgery area. Many don’t end up having to be taken to a city hospital. Pamplonians and visitors packed the town hall square at midnight last Thursday to sing the mournful “Poor Me” (Pobre de mi) traditional balad that bids goodbye to the festival before singing the rousing “First of January” (Uno de enero), the jaunty song that looks ahead to the festival the following year. Before the pandemic, the festival was last suspended during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.
