Festivity in honor of San Fermin

The festivity of San Fermin or “Sanfermines” is a festivity in honor of San Fermin held annually in Pamplona from the 7 to the 14 of July.

Pamplona dresses up in red and white

Traditionally, people wear white pants and shirt as well as a red wide belt and scarf. The red colour symbolizes the blood from the suffering of San Fermin.

From the “Txupinazo” to the “Pobre de mí”

The festivity starts the 6 of July at 12h with the “Txupinazo” in the city hall.

And ends with the "pobre de mi" the 14 day at 24h

“Encierro” * - OriginRanchers of Navarre used to bring the bulls from the meadows to the main square. Butchers, who were the ones in charge of collecting and buying the cattle, began to go with the ranchers through the streets to the main square. Some time later, this became popular and people began to run ahead of the bulls.

* “Encierro” = Running of bulls through the streets.

“Encierro” - PresentationIt consists on running ahead of a pack of six bulls lidered by some bullocks.

“Encierro” - RouteThe route sarts in the corrals of “Santo Domingo” and finishes in the bullring. The pack of bulls run the route in four minutes with an average speed of 25 km/h.

“Encierro” - DesarrolloBefore the running, people sing canticles in the slope of Santo Domingo 3 times in honor of San Fermin, so that they get his protection.

Giants and balconies with flowersThe giants of Pamplona are huge puppets made of cardboard, cloth and wood. This characters with others as “Kilikis”, “Zaldikos” and “Cabezudos” make up the krewe which goes through the streets of Pamplona.

Music and “Peñas” A “peña” is a group of

friends who, during the festivity, dress up with the same clothes and meet in pubs and bars to eat and dance. Each “peña” has its distintive scarf.

Music is crucial in the “sanfermines”. In the party we’ll find dances as “Las dianas de la Pamplonesa” or the “Pasodobles”.