San Fermin Festival

Type of Holiday: Sporting
Date of Observation: Week that includes July 7
Where Celebrated: Pamplona, Spain
Symbols and Customs: Bull, Running of the Bulls, Safety Barriers

ORIGINS

The Feast of San Fermin was originally observed in Pamplona, Spain, on October 10 with prayers and a procession in honor of the city's patron saint. But in 1591 the Pamplona city council proposed to the Church that the celebration be transferred to July 7, to coincide with a fair that was traditionally held in the city and that featured the running of bulls through the streets. Some scholars believe that this was a deliberate attempt to link the saint's name to an event that was an entirely secular celebration, while others believe that the date was changed simply to take advantage of the summer weather. In any case, as time went on, the fair declined in importance while the RUNNING OF THE BULLS became the most prominent feature of the day's events.

Today, the start of the San Fermin Festival is announced with a gun fired from the balcony of the town hall. Bands of txistularis (a Basque word pronounced cheestoo-LAH-rees)-with dancers, drummers, and txistu (a musical instrument similar to a flute) players-march through the town and its suburbs playing songs announcing the RUNNING OF THE BULLS , an event that has now been part of the festival for more than 400 years. At 8:00 a.m., the bulls are allowed to run from the corrals in which they are kept through the streets to the bullring. Before them run the young men of the city, often accompanied by tourists who have come to Pamplona to risk their lives and display their bravery. When the bulls reach the arena, the running ends and they are locked up in their pens until the bullfight takes place later in the day. Although the race lasts barely five minutes, participants are frequently injured and occasionally killed by the stampeding animals.

The killing of the BULL didn't become an official part of the San Fermin Festival until the end of the seventeenth century. Up to that time, the bull was simply run until he was exhausted and of no further use. Then he was taken back to the corral and eventually returned to the country to recover from any injuries he might have suffered. Nowadays, the bull usually falls victim to a professional bullfighter in the bullring.

The San Fermin Festival received a huge boost in popularity after the publication of Ernest Hemingway's novel The Sun Also Rises, in which the RUNNING OF THE BULLS at Pamplona is described in vivid detail. Thousands of people now come to Pamplona in July to watch from behind the wooden barriers that line the streets to the arena as the bulls are prodded and taunted until they are ready to charge anyone or anything that stands in their way.

SYMBOLS AND CUSTOMS

Bull

The bull has long been regarded as a sacred animal in Spain. Because of its great size and strength, the bull is also a symbol of sexual vigor and fecundity. Any man who comes in direct contact with a bull, either by fighting it or by eating its flesh, is believed to partake of the bull's power.

Running of the Bulls

For many centuries in Spain, people used bulls on a rope or with burning pitch on their horns to celebrate important saints' days or special occasions, such as weddings, betrothals, and religious festivals. Before a wedding, for example, the bridegroom and his male friends would run a bull, tied with a heavy rope, through the streets of town to the bride's house, where it was killed. What the groom was trying to do was to bring his clothing in contact with the animal, thus acquiring its sexual powers. The present-day bullfight represents, in a symbolic way, the transmission of the bull's power, at the precise moment of its death, to the matador or bullfighter. But rather than being a sacred rite, it has become a public entertainment.

The "runners of bulls" were originally lower-class people skilled at running in front of the bull or handling the rope tied to its horns. They were often athletes, acrobats, or dancers who could move quickly and get out of the animal's way. Eventually, the more highly skilled performers began to charge for their participation. As time passed, they were replaced by professional bullfighters or matadors.

Today's runners are usually young men-and occasionally young women dressed as men-who want to prove their courage and agility.

Safety Barriers

First used in 1776 to mark the route of the running bulls, the safety barriers are made of fir wood. Along the course, these barriers are made up of 1,800 boards, forty gates, 590 posts, 200 palisades (fences), 2,400 wedges, and 2,000 bolts. Every year, twenty boards must be replaced because of damage.

FURTHER READING

Henderson, Helene, ed. Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary. 3rd ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2005. Serran-Pagan, Gines. Pamplona-Grazalema: From the Public Square to the Bullring. New York: Enquire Print & Pub., 1980. Shemanski, Frances. A Guide to World Fairs and Festivals. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1985. Spicer, Dorothy Gladys. Festivals of Western Europe. 1958. Reprint. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1993. Trawicky, Bernard, and Ruth W. Gregory. Anniversaries and Holidays. 5th ed. Chicago: American Library Assocation, 2000. Van Straalen, Alice. The Book of Holidays Around the World. New York: Dutton, 1986.

WEB SITES

Council of Pamplona, Spain www.pamplona.net

San Fermin Guide www.sanfermin.com/guia/in_sanfermin.shtml

San Fermin Festival

July 6-14The festivities surrounding this well-known festival in Pamplona, Spain, honoring the city's bishop, begin with a rocket fired from the balcony of the town hall. Bands of txistularis (a Basque word pronounced chees-too-LAH-rees)—with dancers, drummers, and txistu players (a musical instrument like a flute)—and bagpipers march through the town and its suburbs playing songs announcing the "running of the bulls," an event that has taken place here for 400 years. Each morning, young men, dressed in typical Basque costumes, risk their lives running through the streets of Pamplona ahead of the bulls being run to the bullring where the bullfights will be held. Perhaps the best-known portrayal of this scene occurs in Ernest Hemingway's novel, The Sun Also Rises.
CONTACTS:
Pamplona Tourist Office
c/Hilarion Eslava 1
Pamplona, 31001 Spain
34-948-206-540; fax: 34-948-207034
SOURCES:
AnnivHol-2000, p. 114
BkHolWrld-1986, Jul 7
FestWestEur-1958, p. 201
GdWrldFest-1985, p. 163

单词	san fermin festival
释义	San Fermin Festival San Fermin Festival Type of Holiday: Sporting Date of Observation: Week that includes July 7 Where Celebrated: Pamplona, Spain Symbols and Customs: Bull, Running of the Bulls, Safety Barriers ORIGINS The Feast of San Fermin was originally observed in Pamplona, Spain, on October 10 with prayers and a procession in honor of the city's patron saint. But in 1591 the Pamplona city council proposed to the Church that the celebration be transferred to July 7, to coincide with a fair that was traditionally held in the city and that featured the running of bulls through the streets. Some scholars believe that this was a deliberate attempt to link the saint's name to an event that was an entirely secular celebration, while others believe that the date was changed simply to take advantage of the summer weather. In any case, as time went on, the fair declined in importance while the RUNNING OF THE BULLS became the most prominent feature of the day's events. Today, the start of the San Fermin Festival is announced with a gun fired from the balcony of the town hall. Bands of txistularis (a Basque word pronounced cheestoo-LAH-rees)-with dancers, drummers, and txistu (a musical instrument similar to a flute) players-march through the town and its suburbs playing songs announcing the RUNNING OF THE BULLS , an event that has now been part of the festival for more than 400 years. At 8:00 a.m., the bulls are allowed to run from the corrals in which they are kept through the streets to the bullring. Before them run the young men of the city, often accompanied by tourists who have come to Pamplona to risk their lives and display their bravery. When the bulls reach the arena, the running ends and they are locked up in their pens until the bullfight takes place later in the day. Although the race lasts barely five minutes, participants are frequently injured and occasionally killed by the stampeding animals. The killing of the BULL didn't become an official part of the San Fermin Festival until the end of the seventeenth century. Up to that time, the bull was simply run until he was exhausted and of no further use. Then he was taken back to the corral and eventually returned to the country to recover from any injuries he might have suffered. Nowadays, the bull usually falls victim to a professional bullfighter in the bullring. The San Fermin Festival received a huge boost in popularity after the publication of Ernest Hemingway's novel The Sun Also Rises, in which the RUNNING OF THE BULLS at Pamplona is described in vivid detail. Thousands of people now come to Pamplona in July to watch from behind the wooden barriers that line the streets to the arena as the bulls are prodded and taunted until they are ready to charge anyone or anything that stands in their way. SYMBOLS AND CUSTOMS Bull The bull has long been regarded as a sacred animal in Spain. Because of its great size and strength, the bull is also a symbol of sexual vigor and fecundity. Any man who comes in direct contact with a bull, either by fighting it or by eating its flesh, is believed to partake of the bull's power. Running of the Bulls For many centuries in Spain, people used bulls on a rope or with burning pitch on their horns to celebrate important saints' days or special occasions, such as weddings, betrothals, and religious festivals. Before a wedding, for example, the bridegroom and his male friends would run a bull, tied with a heavy rope, through the streets of town to the bride's house, where it was killed. What the groom was trying to do was to bring his clothing in contact with the animal, thus acquiring its sexual powers. The present-day bullfight represents, in a symbolic way, the transmission of the bull's power, at the precise moment of its death, to the matador or bullfighter. But rather than being a sacred rite, it has become a public entertainment. The "runners of bulls" were originally lower-class people skilled at running in front of the bull or handling the rope tied to its horns. They were often athletes, acrobats, or dancers who could move quickly and get out of the animal's way. Eventually, the more highly skilled performers began to charge for their participation. As time passed, they were replaced by professional bullfighters or matadors. Today's runners are usually young men-and occasionally young women dressed as men-who want to prove their courage and agility. Safety Barriers First used in 1776 to mark the route of the running bulls, the safety barriers are made of fir wood. Along the course, these barriers are made up of 1,800 boards, forty gates, 590 posts, 200 palisades (fences), 2,400 wedges, and 2,000 bolts. Every year, twenty boards must be replaced because of damage. FURTHER READING Henderson, Helene, ed. Holidays, Festivals, and Celebrations of the World Dictionary. 3rd ed. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 2005. Serran-Pagan, Gines. Pamplona-Grazalema: From the Public Square to the Bullring. New York: Enquire Print & Pub., 1980. Shemanski, Frances. A Guide to World Fairs and Festivals. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1985. Spicer, Dorothy Gladys. Festivals of Western Europe. 1958. Reprint. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1993. Trawicky, Bernard, and Ruth W. Gregory. Anniversaries and Holidays. 5th ed. Chicago: American Library Assocation, 2000. Van Straalen, Alice. The Book of Holidays Around the World. New York: Dutton, 1986. WEB SITES Council of Pamplona, Spain www.pamplona.net San Fermin Guide www.sanfermin.com/guia/in_sanfermin.shtml San Fermin Festival July 6-14The festivities surrounding this well-known festival in Pamplona, Spain, honoring the city's bishop, begin with a rocket fired from the balcony of the town hall. Bands of txistularis (a Basque word pronounced chees-too-LAH-rees)—with dancers, drummers, and txistu players (a musical instrument like a flute)—and bagpipers march through the town and its suburbs playing songs announcing the "running of the bulls," an event that has taken place here for 400 years. Each morning, young men, dressed in typical Basque costumes, risk their lives running through the streets of Pamplona ahead of the bulls being run to the bullring where the bullfights will be held. Perhaps the best-known portrayal of this scene occurs in Ernest Hemingway's novel, The Sun Also Rises. CONTACTS: Pamplona Tourist Office c/Hilarion Eslava 1 Pamplona, 31001 Spain 34-948-206-540; fax: 34-948-207034 SOURCES: AnnivHol-2000, p. 114 BkHolWrld-1986, Jul 7 FestWestEur-1958, p. 201 GdWrldFest-1985, p. 163
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