FX Excursions

FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
GNTO

Running Through Pamplona: La Fiesta de San Fermín

by Akhil Kalepu

Jul 7, 2015

The Running of the Bulls in San Sebastian, Spain © Iakov Filimonov | Dreamstime

History

San Fermín’s namesake festival started way back in the Middle Ages, and is now arguably Spain’s most iconic event. Originally a religious celebration, the event honors Pamplona’s first bishop and commemorates his beheading and martyrdom in the Catholic Church. Legend has it, the man died being dragged through the streets, chased by bulls.

 

San Fermin is actually a collection of various Navarre traditions, starting as cattle fairs where ranchers would arrive in town to showcase their livestock. Bullfighting became the annual tradition in the 14th century, with the first official bullring built in 1844. The original religious festivities were held Oct. 10, before Pamplona residents moved to July 7 in 1591 to coincide with the cattle fairs and to take advantage of the warmer weather.

 

The Running of the Bulls, Pampona, Spain © Jborzicchi | Dreamstime 14774445

The Running of the Bulls © Jborzicchi | Dreamstime

 

The Running of the Bulls started in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as concerns over foreign tourists and rowdy crowds due to drinking. Los Gigantes y Cabezudos (Giants and Big-Heads) parade was added at the end of the 1800s, becoming a fixture in many Latin festivals. San Fermín reached worldwide fame with the publication of The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, who was inspired by his 1925 visit to Pamplona.

 

Today more than one million visitors come to see the festival every year, which is comprised of several events, the most famous of which is the Running of the Bulls. The tradition was originally a practical way of getting bulls from their corrals to the bullring in the city, with people jumping in to speed them up. This practice grew into a competition where young men and women race in front of the bulls to safety, and eventually grew into a cultural tradition in Spain.

 

La Fiesta de San Fermin, Pamplona, Spain © Mmeeds | Dreamstime 21558030

La Fiesta de San Fermin © Mmeeds | Dreamstime

 

A run is held every morning of the festival at 8 a.m. Six bulls and six steers run a 903-yard track, with an average speed of 15 mph. While goring is not common, it can be life threatening, though most of the Running’s injuries are contusions from falls and are not serious. Since record keeping began in 1910, there have only been 15 deaths in the bull run, and safety has been a top priority with 200 medical professionals and 20 ambulances on hand.

 

San Fermín inspired similar festivals and bull runs all over Spain and the world. Not all of them actually use bulls, so if you’re interested in the original festival, visit bullrunpamplona.com.

 

Bull Running Monument of Pamplona, Spain © Wim Wyloeck | Dreamstime

Bull Running Monument of Pamplona, Spain © Wim Wyloeck | Dreamstime

 

#TrazeeTravel

Insta Feed
Trends / Food & Drink
Nov 4, 2024

What to Expect from New York Bartender Week

New York Bartender Week is a celebration of the Empire State’s cocktail culture, with bars and spirits producers across New York State taking part in the inaugural event, Nov. 18–24. The varied and versatile week strives to highlight not just standout bars in New York City, but also elsewhere. The event will feature bars going beyond craft cocktail venues to include sports bars, dive bars, hotel bars and any other watering hole.

Seoul: Your Favorite Worldwide City

Seoul is the place for your next bleisure destination.

Destinations / North America
Nov 4, 2024

Sustainable Getaway to Québec

Travelers with sustainability top of mind, consider a getaway to Québec and experience the Canadian province’s environmentally-friendly offerings.

Destinations / North America
Nov 4, 2024

Glamping Brand Announces First Pacific Northwest Location

Next May will mark the opening of Under Canvas’ first-ever Pacific Northwest. Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge will sit on 120 acres along the Columbia River Gorge in Washington’s White Salmon River Valley, an area known for its waterfalls, wineries and towering peaks. The new glamping site will be surrounded by pine- and oak-forested hillsides, Oregon’s Mount Hood, and the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Mountain Range.

Discover Greece’s Tower Towns: A Journey Through History

Greece's tower towns offer a captivating blend of history, architecture and stunning landscapes that make them perfect for curious travelers. These towns, particularly found in the Mani region of the Peloponnese, are defined by stone towers built during the medieval period. Constructed for both defense and as symbols of family pride, the towers stand as a testament to the region's turbulent history and its residents’ resilience.

Hotel
Nov 1, 2024

This Resort is Offering an Election Recovery Package

If the 2024 presidential election doesn’t go quite how you want — or if the whole stress of the matter is just doing you in — there’s one place you need to go: O2 Beach Club & Spa in Barbados. This luxury, boutique, all-inclusive resort offers an Election Recovery package, bookable through Nov. 4 and valid for stays through Dec. 20.