Hemingway: the San Fermin
festival left a deep
emotional impression
and enjoy the different culinary offerings in
the afternoon and evening before lunch or
dinner, a custom that is commonly known
as “chiquiteo”.
Fiestas and culture
The bullfights and running of the bulls beca-
me one of Hemingway’s greatest passions.
For him, this fiesta represented the supre-
me struggle which pitted man against an
animal in a unique life and death event.
The festival of San Fermin is perhaps the
most exceptional and impressive event in
Pamplona. The fiesta takes place in the be-
ginning of the summer season against the
incredible backdrop and where nearly all of
the city’s residents go out dressed in whi-
te with a red scarf tied around their necks
to watch the spectacle or to participate by
risking their lives and running in front of the
bull.
Pamplona’s major festival kicks off at noon
on the 6th of July with the “chupinazo”, a
rocket thrown from the balcony of the City
Hall. As of that moment, one can enjoy the
9-day celebration in any part of the city,
but particularly in the historic district where
many different activities take place.
One of the greatest attractions of this festi-
val is the famous “encierros” or running of
the bulls which begin after two rockets are
launched from the Santo Domingo corrals.
The origin of this tradition dates back to
the time when it was necessary to take the
bulls to the ring for the bullfights in the af-
ternoons, another not-to-miss event in this
fiesta.
The parade of the “giants and big heads” is
another attraction. The giants are four cou-
ples (king and queen) standing 4 metres
tall which represent the “four parts of the
world” (Europe, Africa, Asia and America).
These characters are accompanied by 5
“cabezudos” and 6 “kilikis”.
A charming city, Pamplona is modern,
with clean streets and beautiful gardens,
a well-kept historic district that is reminis-
cent of the city’s past. All the surrounding
areas offer incredible landscapes and there
are many typical towns which offer visitors
many surprises and a clue to the someti-
mes forgotten essence of the real Spain.
c o m m u n i t i e s
