The Running of the Bulls

The Running of the Bulls

Welcome to Pamplona and the festival of San Fermin. This year I will get a chance to do what every boy in this town dreams of. I will join the running of the bulls. Spain is famous for its bullfights, which happen all over the country during summer festivals called fiestas. In Pamplona, the Fiesta of San Fermin lasts from July 7 to 14. Every morning, bulls charge down the street to get from their pen to the bullring.

When they get to the bullring, the brave bullfighters come out and put on a great show. But even if you aren’t a bullfighter, there is a way you can show your bravery. You can run through the streets with the bulls on their way to the bullring. Every year more than two thousand people join in this exciting race, which we call the encierro. To join in the encierro you should be dressed like me, in white clothes with a red neckerchief, or scarf. Come on! You can buy it from a street vendor.

It would be much safer if all the people left the street so that the bulls can not hurt them as they run by. But in Pamplona, we love danger and excitement! We gather in the street where the bulls will run, and we try to run with them. Over the years some people have died, but that still won't stop the tradition of the running of the bulls. Before the race begins, a street cleaning truck comes along and sweeps the garbage off the streets.

Then the street is washed and dried. This is very important because if a runner trips and falls, a bull could step on him or her. Here we are. It is time for the race! Can you feel the excitement? Hundreds of people have come to watch this morning. This year, I will not be watching, but people will be watching me. I feel so brave and proud to be a runner. The runners gather at the bottom of Santo Domingo Road.

First all the runners say a prayer to St. Fermin, asking him to protect us during the run. Bang! That was the fist rocket. It goes off to tell us that the bulls are on the street. Bang! The second rocket tells us that the bulls are getting closer. The bulls run very fast, so it is impossible to race them or even to keep up with them. Runners need to have a plan. My plan is to run slowly at first; then, when the bulls get close to me, I will run as fast as I can and find a hiding place.