Why would anyone want to risk their lives running in front of a herd of angry bulls? Apparently many people think that running in front of a herd of angry bulls is fun. How it all started? Presumably, a long time ago, someone also thought that running in front of a herd of angry bulls could be fun!
Unlike the case of the very modern Tomatina Tomato Fight, the San Fermín Bullfight is a very old festival, dating back to at least the 15th century. The San Fermín festival, originally held in October, is actually a series of festivals that gradually merged to become one:
- The religious celebrations of San Fermín, patron saint of Pamplona and Navarra.
- A bullfighting festival
- A series of commercial festivals.
As the original gloomy religious festivals took on a more frivolous hue, the celebrations moved to July when the weather was more reliable (yes, despite what many believe, the weather in Spain is not always sunny and warm).
These many elements of San Fermín have continued from those days to the present, but the actual operation of the bulls came later. It is said that the ritual was born out of a mixture of logistical necessity and a typical Spanish reckless desire to have fun: while the bulls were herded from their corral to the bullring for the night fights, some wise men or (boys) decided that it would do. Be fun to run in front of the bulls, you know, for fun. While in most countries these people would be arrested for endangering their lives, the Spanish went and made it an integral part of their festival.
Who was San Fermin?
San Fermín, or San Fermín de Amiens, to give him his full title, was born in Pamplona, later called Pompaelo, to a Roman senator. He traveled extensively from a young age, preaching Christian doctrine, and was appointed bishop at age 24 before being martyred at age 31.
San Fermín was beheaded, although it is sometimes claimed that he was tied to a bull and dragged through the streets. While fitting for the San Fermin festival legend, it was actually Saint Saturnino, the bishop who baptized Saint Fermin, who was assassinated in this manner.
Ernest Hemingway Mentions
Hemmingway’s novel The Sun Also Rises features bullfighting at the San Fermín Festival in Pamplona. It is not a book about the San Fermín festival, but it does have a graphic description of the running of the bulls that has helped popularize the event in English-speaking countries.
The Sun Also Rises was called ¡Fiesta! in the UK and Spanish editions.
Contrary to popular belief, Hemmingway’s death in the afternoon is not about bullfighting, but bullfighting in general. Death in the Afternoon is a non-fiction book, so it might be a better starting point if you want to read about Hemmingway’s views on bullfighting.
