Xtra Toronto Article

Running With the Bulls – Why Do People Do It?

Every year in Pamplona, Spain, and several other smaller towns in the country, an event occurs over the course of a few days. This is known as the Running of the Bulls. It seems like a dangerous activity, so why do so many people like running with the bulls? Let’s take a look at the event to see why this is the case.

People like to go running with the bulls as a celebration of saints. The Running of the Bulls was started as a way to honor San Fermin, the patron saint of Pamplona. San Fermin was a saint who became a martyr after being dragged to death by a bull. His life is celebrated with this event. The people go running with the bulls at the end of the celebration in the Encierro event. This event is the biggest draw of the entire Sanfermines festival.

The Running of the Rulls takes place around the streets of Pamplona over a course that is eight hundred meters long. The bulls will then travel the length of the course to the bullfighting ring where activities will take place later on. Six bulls are released every morning between July 7 and July 14. A rocket will sound off to indicate when the bulls have been released.

The Running of the Bulls starts at Pamplona’s Santa Dominga Street, but some will start running at a street farther from the start. Tourists who are not running will stand behind double fences that protect them from being hurt by the bulls. Also, before the run the runners will sing a traditional hymn to bless them as they go running with the bulls.

The Corridas, or bull fights, are the last part of the Running of the Bulls. Taking place in the afternoon, the event then culminates with a series of parties during the night for each day of the series.

Running with the bulls may be an exciting sporting activity, but it can be very dangerous. Over a seventy year period between 1924 and 1997 fourteen people died while running with the bulls. Around two hundred people received serious injuries while running with the bulls too.

The reason why so many people in Spain go running with the bulls is because they find it to be a right of passage of sorts. However, they feel that tourists who come to Pamplona to run with the bulls are making the event more dangerous. They are busy clogging up the course while the more experienced runners are being hindered by them. Many businesses have been happy about this though, as they can earn more money off of tourists.

Running with the bulls has become more popular in the twentieth century. Author Ernest Hemingway featured the event in his book The Sun Also Rises. Being such a popular book among college curriculums, it has been known to encourage many to travel to Pamplona to participate.

People who are excited about adrenaline based sports with great culture will find running with the bulls to be an exciting activity.