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The Running of the Bulls in Pamplona is to celebrate the siesta of San Fermin. In Spanish, the Running of the Bulls is called 'encierro'. Encierro is derived from the verb 'encerrar' meaning 'to lock out' or 'to shut in'. The event is held from July 7th at 8am to July 14th, with a bull run every morning, and a bullfight every afternoon. Evidence tells us the event in Pamplona originally was held in October, but was later decided to move the event to July after the event became more commercialize and the weather for that time of year became unsuitable for that kind of event.
The bull runners are required to be in the running area by 7:30am at the top of the run. The runners wear traditional garb of a white shirt and pants, and a red waistband and neckerchief. Each person carries a copy of the daily newspaper to use to draw away the bull's attention if necessary. The entire run usually only lasts around four minutes total. The entire length of the run is 840 meters long and starts at the Corralillos, weaves through the old part of the city, and ends at the Plaza del Toros, or the bullfighting ring. The herd consists every day of six bulls to be fought that night, and eleven oxen to keep the bulls headed in one direction in the path. The bulls are replaced every day, but the oxen are not killed, and are used every day the encierro takes place.
The event begins by the bull runners reciting a prayer to San Fermin:
"A San Fermín pedimos,
por ser nuestro patrón,
nos guíe en el encierro dándonos su bendición"
("We ask San Fermín,
as our Patron,
to guide us through the encierro and give us his blessing")
After the prayer, everyone sings "Viva San Fermin, Gora San Fermin!" and the first rocket is shot off to start the event, and the gate is open. A second rocket is shot off to signal that all six bulls, and six steers have left the corral and are headed down the route. The third rocket is fired off when the bulls reach the end of the run at the bullring, and a fourth and last rocket is shot when the bulls enter the corral at the bullring, marking the end of that day's run.
Injuries are commonplace during the encierro, but most are self-inflicted from tripping and falling and running into things. Few people are actually gored, and the last person to die was in 2003, Fermin Etxeberria, a veteran bull runner by the age of 63. The last tourist to actually die during the encierro was Matthew Peter Tassio, in 1995, a young 22yr old man from Illinois. The bulls do not go without their share of harm. Their hooves grip poorly on the cobblestone streets and this often causes injuries to the animals themselves. There are a few established rules to participating in the encierro as a bull runner. The age requirement is that you are at least eighteen years of age. Also, there are things that are strictly forbidden, outlined in a list of rules:
"WARNING from Pamplona Town Council ...
As well as being the best known act of the Sanfermines the Bull Run is also the most dangerous. In order to ensure that the Run goes off successfully and to avoid danger it is advised that the spectators and runners bear in mind certain minimal rules which guarantee the normal running of the Bull Run.
For this reason it is expressly forbidden:
1.- To admit anyone under the age of 18 into the course as minors are totally prohibited from running or participating.
2.- To go over the police barriers which the authorities see fit to erect.
3.- To place oneself in the zones and areas of the itinerary which are expressly indicated by the agents of the authorities.
4.- To hide oneself before the release of the bulls in corners, dead angles or doorways of houses or establishments located throughout the length of the course.
5.- To leave open the doors of the houses along the course, the owners or tenants of the said property being responsible for this.
6.- To enter into the route in a state of drunkenness, under the effects of drugs or in any inappropriate state.
7.- To carry objects which may impede the correct running of the Bull Run.
8.- To wear clothes or shoes which are not appropriate for the run.
9.- Call the animals or distract them in any way and for whatever reason in the course or during the rounding up in the Bull Ring.
10.- To stop in the Bull Run or station oneself on the walls or barriers or in the doorways in such a way as to impede the run or the defence of the runners.
11.- To grab onto, harass or mistreat the animals or obstruct their exit enclosure by any action during the amateur bullfight.
12.- To take photographs from the streets, walls or barriers without due authorization.
13.- Any other action which may impede the normal running of the Bull Run." - "Pamplona Bull Running - San Fermin [1]"
See Also:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTF-uZzOOpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/PathOfClouds/tw1/bulls-in-pamplona.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/PathOfClouds/tw1/pamplona-bull-run-map.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v158/PathOfClouds/tw1/Pamplona.jpg
Refrences
[1]: "Pamploma Bull Running - San Fermin." Spanish Festivals. © 1998-2009. Spanish Fiestas Ltd. . 21 Jan 2009 .
[2]: "Running of the Bulls." Wikipedia. 2009. 21 Jan 2009 .
[3]: "bulls-in-pamplona.jpg ." renaissancejack.com. 21 Jan 2009 .
[4]: "Pamplona.jpg." 4umi.com. 21 Jan 2009 .
[5]: Travelsite. "YouTube - Running of the Bulls, Encierro 08 July, 2007 Pamplona, Spain:." YouTube.com. 08 Jul 2007. © 2008 YouTube, LLC . 21 Jan 2009 .
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