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It was the first of nine morning runs or “encierros” during the
famous celebrations held in the northern Spanish city of
Pamplona.
The bulls pounded along the twisting cobblestone streets after
being led by six steers. Up to 4,000 runners take part in each
bull run, which takes place over 846 meters (2,775 feet) and can
last two to four minutes.
Most runners wear the traditional garb of white trousers and
shirt with red sash and neckerchief. The expert Spanish runners
try to sprint just in front of the bull's horns for a few
death-defying seconds while egging the animal on with a rolled
newspaper.
Thousands of spectators watched from balconies and wooden
barricades along the course. Millions more follow the visceral
spectacle on live television.
The festival kicked off Sunday with the traditional “chupinazo”
firework blast after which revelers doused one another with red
or sparkling wine.
While gorings are not rare, many more people are bruised and
injured in falls and pileups with each other. Medics rush in to
treat the injured and take the seriously hurt to a hospital.
On Monday, Spanish newspaper El País reported that a few
revelers had been injured, but it wasn’t clear if their injuries
were from gorings.
Unofficial records say at least 15 people have died in the bull
runs over the past century. The deadliest day on record was July
13, 1980, when four runners were killed by two bulls. The last
death was in 2009.
The rest of each day is for eating, drinking, dancing and
cultural entertainment, including bull fights where the animals
that run in the morning are slain in the bull ring by
professional matadors each afternoon.
The festival isn't without its detractors. On Saturday, animal
rights activists marched through Pamplona wearing horns and
splotched with fake blood in protest against the San Fermin bull
runs. Some held up signs saying “bullfights are a sin.”
The festival was made internationally famous by Ernest
Hemingway’s classic 1926 novel “The Sun Also Rises,” about
American bohemians wasting away in Europe.
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Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain.
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