Every July, for approximately the last 600 year a fantastic and breathtaking event called Sanfermines takes place in Spain.  This festival is in honor of the Patron Saint of Pamplona, San Fermin.  This event comes to an end with Encierro (The Running of the Bulls) which is the best known part of the festival.  This is also the part that brings the largest attendance from foreign visitors.

The festival celebrates this Saint who became a martyr when he was dragged up and down the streets by the bulls.  It is for this reason it centers around the actual running of the bulls.  Best known for the roots in Pamplona, this festival is a tradition all over Spain.  This event has given Spain an opportunity to spread their culture and history around the world.

This tradition for as old as it is, didn't gain worldwide popularity until Ernest Hemmingway talked about it in his novel "The Sun Also Rises".  The book which has been read by many idolizes the tradition.  The Spaniards themselves are divided by the popularity it has achieved.  They feel that the forigners have made it much more dangerous than it is and somehow cheapen the tradition.  But they also look forward to the money that is injected into the town and the chance to spread their culture worldwide.

Between July 7th and July 24th this "Running of the Bulls" occurs.  Every morning a rocket signals the release of 6 bulls to run the 800-meter course through the streets of town starting at Santa Dominga Street.  They are going to where the afternoon Corridas or bull fights will take place.  This course is also packed with runners both local and foreign.  These runners may start at the beginning or join in at Mercaderas or Estafeta.  As they wait for the signal that the bulls were released, these runners all sing a traditional song that asks for blessing as they run from the bulls.  There are many who chose not to run and watch from a safe place behind double fences.