WHAT IS SANFERMIN?

Sanfermin is one of the greatest fiestas in the world. These fiestas should be visited by everyone at least once in their lifetime.

Many visitors who come to the fiestas of Sanfermin in Pamplona say that they are among the best in the whole world. The reasons why these fiestas rank in practically everybody’s top seven list of fiestas worldwide is that there is a lot of partying, a lot of good vibes and both go hand-in-hand during a lot of hours. Sanfermin fiestas are famous for never holding up. That means that you can come across a wide variety of special moments and special events at different times of the day and night.

In Pamplona, from the opening Txupinazo event on the 6th of July, there is room for all kinds of people and those of very different ages can all find their particular corner to have a hell of a good time in. At how many fiestas could you go with your mother-in-law or your own daughter and still be sure that both of them will have a very enjoyable time?  …Pamplona in fiestas is one of those places.

Some points of advice to enjoy the fiestas of Sanfermin just like the rest of the crowd

1) Sanfermin is a lot more than just the Running of the Bulls

The Running of the Bulls is the best-known event of the Sanfermin fiestas but it is by no means the only one. There are lots of other ways to enjoy yourself between the 6th and the 14th of July. Even if you have no interest in bulls, you can still enjoy the fiestas to the maximum. There are many people, and indeed, many local people who enjoy the fiestas intensely and who never watch either the Running of the Bulls or the Bullfights.

2) The fiestas are held in honor of a Catholic saint

On his feast day, on the 7th of July, there is an important procession in his honor around the old part of the city of Pamplona. It is to this saint that the runners in the morning Running of the Bulls sing their homily to implore his protection just before the bulls are released onto the streets. However, the partying and other events in fiestas do not have any religious character.

3) The fiestas in the Street, the party on the street

The partying and the fiesta are mainly lived out in the open streets. It is normal to be in the street, to dance in the street, to sing in the street, to talk in the street. To share the street with everyone else. Normally, the weather should be hot in Pamplona in July, and part of the fun is to enjoy this warmth. Besides, there are times when the bars are just too crowded to handle everyone and the people are more comfortable out on the street. Noisy yes, but is important too to respect the neighbors who may be trying to catch up on some sleep.

4) Joy and Respect

All those who take part in the fiestas do so with these two premises at the forefront. If you come to Sanfermin then you should also share in these values of joy and respect for others, especially respect for all females, and in this way, you will get more out of your visit and the whole scene you encounter in fiestas.

5) You are the main protagonist

The attractive side of the Sanfermin fiestas lies in the fact that you do not experience the fiestas as a mere onlooker or visitor, but rather you can enjoy it in full active participation, just as the locals do. Could you imagine going to the European Champions Football Final or the Six Nations rugby and being allowed to actually play in the game? In Pamplona, between the 6th and the 14th of July this is indeed possible. But it means having to play your part too in order to fully enjoy the Sanfermin fiestas in the same way as everyone else.

6) A popular party

The people of Pamplona with their own initiatives are a basic ingredient of the fiestas. That is to say, outside of the official program prepared each year by City Hall, there are a large number of other fringe activities organized by neighborhoods, gastronomic clubs, sports clubs as well as some firms such as Kukuxumusu, etc. One essential ingredient of the fiestas is the key role played by the Peña clubs and their brass bands as they liven the streets with their bands and banners.

Red scarf in Sanfermin

The red scarf is a distinctive element of the San Fermín festival, so much so that tradition says that you only wear it on your neck while the festival lasts. This is why before the rocket is fired, the people have it on their wrist, in their pocket, or in their hand, waving it in the air when the person responsible for starting the festival shouts, “Viva San Fermín, Gora San Fermín”. When the festival begins, the scarf takes its place on one’s neck or head, as imagination and fashion would see fit.

In addition to looking good with white and staining one’s clothes, if it is poor quality and you wash it with lights at over thirty degrees, the scarf has a religious origin. According to the parish priest of the San Lorenzo Church in Pamplona, where the chapel is in honor of San Fermín, Jesús Labari, “We are not absolutely sure and there are no facts to prove the time when the scarf began to be used, but we do know the reasons for it. For religious ceremonies in honor of a saint, if the saint is a martyr and died for his beliefs, the priests dress in red. In the case of the festival in honor of San Fermín, we do this because he was martyred and the thing about the red scarf is a performance by the people of this religious custom.”

Resource: sanfermin.com