La fiesta de San Fermin originated when three festivals were combined into one. These festivals were the San Fermin festival, the town fair of Pamplona, and a celebration of bullfighting.

El Encierro, or the Running of the Bulls, may be the most famous moment of Las Fiestas de San Fermín in Pamplona, but the festival itself is an entire week of celebrating. It begins at noon on July 6th, when el chupinazo, a rocket, is launched from city hall in Pamplona to start the festivities.

From July 7 to July 14 the bulls to be used in the daily bullfights are run through the streets of the town to the bullring. The bullfight, or corrida, is held every afternoon. In addition to the secular events, the Procession of Saint Fermín, a religious celebration, takes place the morning of July 7.

The Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, known as ‘the running of the bulls’ or ‘el encierro’, circa 1930. Meanwhile, the fiesta of San Fermin was carried on as a religious event intended to honor Pamplona’s first bishop, San Fermin, who was beheaded in France while preaching the gospel in the early the third century.

Who is San Fermin and why is he important to this festival? Saint Fermín, as well as Saint Francis Xavier, are now the two patrons of Navarre. In Pamplona, Saint Fermín is now sometimes said to have met his end by being dragged through the streets with angry bulls running after him, hence the tradition..

The fiesta of San Fermin, held in Pamplona , Spain , is a celebration of religion and culture. This celebration includes bullfights, trade fairs, and running with bulls held every day for nine days in the month of July. This celebration has been held every year since 1951 and is a great economic draw for the city.

Fermin (also Firmin, from Latin Firminus; Spanish Fermín) was a legendary holy man and martyr, traditionally venerated as the patron saint of Pamplona, the capital of Navarre, Spain. His death may be associated with either the Decian (250) or Diocletianic persecution (303).

city of Pamplona
The city of Pamplona is world-famous for its fiestas of San Fermín Festival. Thousands of people go there every year to experience the risk and the thrill of the running of the bulls, a tradition immortalised by Ernest Hemingway in his novel Fiesta.

It is believed he died on September 25, AD 303. There is no written record of veneration of the Saint in Pamplona until the 12th century. Saint Fermín, as well as Saint Francis Xavier, are now the two patrons of Navarre.

It is known locally as Sanfermines and is held in honour of Saint Fermin, the co-patron of Navarre. Its events were central to the plot of The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, which brought it to the general attention of the English-speaking world.

The celebrations start at noon on July 6 and continue until midnight on July 14. A firework starts off the celebrations and the popular song Pobre de mí is sung at the end.