Every year, the Festival of San Fermin attracts thousands of visitors to Pamplona, Spain. Lasting nine days, the festival kicks off with massive crowds at the Chupinazo in Pamplona town square, followed by a carnival, fireworks, many bullfights, and of course, the encierro, or "running of the bulls." Held since 1591, San Fermin remains a popular, if also dangerous and controversial, event: Several people have been injured already this year, and the festival continues until July 14. Collected here are some scenes from the first days of this year's Festival of San Fermin.
The Running of the Bulls 2012
-
-
Revelers hold up traditional red scarves during the "Chupinazo", the official opening of the 2012 San Fermin fiestas, on July 6, 2012 in Pamplona, Spain. Revelers from around the world kick off the San Fermin festival with a messy party in the Pamplona town square, one day before the first of eight days of the running of the bulls. #
AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza -
Celebrations in Ayuntamiento square, in Pamplona, Spain on July 6, 2012 to kick off the Spain's most famous bull-running festival with the annual launch of the "chupinazo" rocket. #
AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos -
-
-
-
A placard depicting Muhammad Ali, left by street artists next to sleeping men in Cidadela Park during the second day of the San Fermin running of the bulls on July 8, 2012. #
Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images -
-
A girl reacts as she is hit by the hat of a "Kiliki" during San Fermin festival's "Comparsa de gigantes y cabezudos" (Parade of the giants and the big heads) in Pamplona, on July 8, 2012. "Kilikis", wearing outsized masks, playfully hit bystanders with sponges on sticks, and parade daily through the city accompanied by brass bands during the nine-day-long festival. #
Reuters/Susana Vera -
Runners make space for a Miura fighting bull before entering the Estafeta corner on the second day of the San Fermin running-of-the-bulls on July 8, 2012 in Pamplona. #
Jasper Juinen/Getty Images -
-
A runner, identified by a Navarran government spokesperson as a 21-year-old Japanese man from Ikeda, is lifted by his scarf onto the horns of a Dolores Aguirre fighting bull on the the first day of the running of the bulls in Pamplona, on July 7 2012. The man was dragged for approximately 50 meters (164 feet) and suffered light back injuries. #
Reuters/Vincent West -
A runner is dragged by his scarf by a Dolores Aguirre fighting bull at the entrance to the bullring during the first running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, on July 7, 2012. #
Reuters/Vincent West -
Doctors and paramedics give assistance to an injured man after a Dolores Aguirre Yabarra ranch fighting bull tossed him during the running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona, on July 7, 2012. #
AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza -
-
Runners fall in the path of a Cebada Gago fighting bull and steers at the entrance to the bullring during the third running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, on July 9, 2012. #
Reuters/Susana Vera -
-
-
The hands of a festival-goer hold her wineskin and railings as she waits for the start of the running of the bulls on the Estafeta corner, at the San Fermin fiestas, in Pamplona, on July 7, 2012. #
AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos -
A Cebada Gago ranch fighting bull falls on Estafeta corner during the third Running Of The Bulls, on July 9, 2012. Three people, two from Britain and one from the U.S. were gored by Fugado (Runaway), a 545 kg (1,199 lb) bull that broke from the pack after falling in Santo Domingo in a run that lasted three minutes and thirty-eight seconds. #
Reuters/Joseba Etxaburu -
-
-
A puntillero, or bullfighter's assistant, delivers the coup de grâce, killing a bull during the first bullfight of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, on July 7, 2012. #
Reuters/Joseba Etxaburu -
-
-
The body of Navajito (Little Blade) is dragged away to be taken to the slaughterhouse following the second bullfight after being killed by Spanish bullfighter Javier Castano at the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, on July 8, 2012. The 640-kg (1,430 lbs) Miura fighting bull had earlier raced ahead of the pack of fellow bulls during Sunday morning's Running Of The Bulls, scattering runners in Estafeta Street and landing two in hospital. #
Reuters/Joseba Etxaburu
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.