Students from our language school celebrate the San Fermínes in Pamplona

The fiestas of San Fermín (commonly known as the “San Fermines”) take place every year in the city of Pamplona between July the 6th and 14th, beginning with the famous “chupinazo,” firework in the Town Hall Square at midday on July the 6th.

Its most famous feature is the “encierro”, or running of the bulls, which takes place at 8am every day but the week-long celebration also involves other traditional events, such as Basque sports. The fiesta is held in honour of Saint Fermín, the co-patron saint of the Autonomous Community of Navarra and the population of the small town of Pamplona swells every year from approximately 200,000 to 1 million. It is certainly Spain´s most internationally renowned festival and supposedly the second biggest festival in the world after carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

Some of our students spent two days in Pamplona and had the time of their lives. Some went into watch the bullfight that happens every afternoon at 5pm, with the bulls who ran that morning, and some were even daring enough to run the course itself. They danced in the streets with the Spanish, French, Germans, Swiss…all nationalities could be seen in the streets of Pamplona during this huge fiesta. They all got into the spirit of the festival, buying white clothes and the obligatory red neckerchief and scarf to tie around their waist and left the festival the following day, somewhat less white, with memories of having been at Spain’s craziest festival.

Rachel

http://www.institutohemingway.com/es/rutas-y-excursiones-por-bilbao-cata-vinos-tapas-arquitectura.asp