Investment Immigration experience Spanish festivals: The San Fermín Festival originated in the 12th century, when the citizens of the city commemorated the city's founder and protector, Saint Fermín, on October 10. At that time, the San Fermín Festival was purely a religious event. The Running of the Bulls is a traditional Spanish festival, also known as the "Encierro," which began in 1591 and attracts tens of thousands of participants each year. It is recorded that after the 14th century, merchants drove bulls from outside the city to hold bullfighting activities in the summer. The citizens decided to celebrate the San Fermín Festival in the better weather of summer, and the two activities gradually merged together.
Since 1951, the San Fermín Festival has lasted only two days, with activities including speeches, concerts, competitions, and bullfighting. Later, fireworks and dance performances were added. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the running of the bulls and juggling performances were also introduced, and visitors from outside began to celebrate with the citizens of Pamplona. In the 19th century, open-air markets and parades of giant figures appeared. The origin of the Running of the Bulls is directly related to the Spanish bullfighting tradition. It is said that for the people of Pamplona, it was very difficult to drive six large bulls from the outskirts of the city into the bullring. In the 16th century, some onlookers had the audacity to run in front of the bulls, provoking them and enticing them to charge into the bullring. This custom later evolved into the Running of the Bulls.
In 1923, the famous American writer Ernest Hemingway first came to Pamplona to watch the running of the bulls and wrote the famous novel "The Sun Also Rises" (published in 1926). He vividly described the running of the bulls in his work, making the thrilling event widely known, transforming it from a regional festival into a global celebration. Tourists from all over the world are attracted to Pamplona to participate in the festivities. Its official name is "San Fermín Festival" (Los Sanfermines), and Saint Fermín (San Fermín) is the patron saint of Pamplona, the capital of the wealthy Navarra province in northeastern Spain.