Spain's famous San Fermin festival begins

The San Fermin Festival, one of Spain's most famous festivals, has begun. The festival, which traditionally starts with a rocket fired from the balcony of the Pamplona city hall, was dedicated this year to the "Duguna Iruneko Dantzariak" dance group, which has a 75-year history in the city. 

With the rocket fired from the balcony with the slogan "People of Pamplona, long live San Fermin," thousands of people who packed the city square, wearing the white pants and shirts characteristic of the festival's spirit, celebrated the start of the festival, which will last until July 14, by tying their red scarves around their necks. 

During the opening of the festival, a Palestinian flag was unfurled in the square, showing support for Palestine. 

Pamplona Municipality announced that a total of 514 cultural and artistic events will be organized within the scope of the festival. 

The first of the runs, which is the most prominent feature of the festival and is called "Encierro," where people run through the streets with the bulls that will face matadors in the arena in the evening, will begin tomorrow. 

IT HAS STRICT RULES

In the bull runs to be held on an 875-meter route in the city center, 16 people have lost their lives due to horn wounds from bulls since 1910, with the last one occurring in 2009. 

According to the rules, while it is required to be healthy and over 18 years old to participate in the run, which is carried out with 6 bulls and 6 oxen, those who do not comply with safety rules can be fined up to 3 thousand euros. 

Due to the San Fermin Festival, for which more than 430 journalists from 15 different countries are accredited, the population of Pamplona, which is normally 196 thousand, exceeds 1 million. 

News Source: AA