The San Fermin festival in Pamplona, in northern Spain, attracts over one million visitors every year. Although chiefly famous for the running of the bulls, the week-long festival is also a celebration of Basque folklore and tradition.
The festival is held in honour of Saint Fermin, patron saint of Navarra and first bishop of Pamplona, who is believed to protect those who participate in the running of the bulls. Fermin is said to have been the son of a Roman senator who lived in the third century. He was ordained as a priest in France and returned to Pamplona as its first bishop.
According to legend, he was beheaded on 25 September 303 and is now considered a martyr in the Catholic Church. However, some say he was dragged through the street with bulls chasing him, hence the tradition in Pamplona.
The statue of San Fermin is carried through the streets of Pamplona during a procession in honour of the patron saint of Navarra and first bishop of PamplonaEloy Alonso/ReutersA woman prays during a procession in honour of San FerminSusana Vera/ReutersA woman and a boy look up as a statue of San Fermin, dating from the 15th century, is paraded through the streets of the town in honour of the patron saint of Navarra and first bishop of PamplonaEloy Alonso/ReutersA boy kisses the statue of San Fermin, patron saint of Navarra and first bishop of Pamplona, who is believed to protect the hundreds of revellers that participate in the running of the bullsSusana Vera/Reuters
Giant figures are paraded through the city every morning of the festival. These figures, known as kilikis, chase children and hit them with a sponge.
Caravinagre (Vinegar Face) holds a baby during the Comparsa de Gigantes y Cabezudos (Giants and Big Heads) paradePablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty ImagesA boy is chased by a Kiliki during the traditional Parade of the Giants and Big Heads in Pamplona. Kilikis, figures wearing oversized masks, playfully hit bystanders with sponges on sticks as they parade daily through the cityEloy Alonso/ReutersFigures dance through the streets during the Parade of the Giants and the Big Heads in PamplonaJoseba Etxaburu/ReutersPeople attend the parade of Gigantes and Cabezudos (Giants and Large Head Puppets) as part of the San Fermin Festival in PamplonaCesar Manso/AFPWomen react as they are hit with a sponge the Parade of Giants and Big Heads in PamplonaSusana Vera/ReutersA woman is embraced by a Kiliki during San Fermin festival's Comparsa de Gigantes y Cabezudos (Parade of Giants and Big Heads)Vincent West/ReutersA reveller's face is seen through the mouth of one of Pamplona's traditional big headsPablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images
A metal bull spouting fireworks from its horns terrifies those too young to take part in the running of the bulls.
The festival is also a celebration of traditional Basque pursuits such as stone carrying, wood carving and hay bale lifting.
Revellers run from the Flaming Bull, a man carrying a metal structure shaped like a bull and loaded with fireworksJoseba Etxaburu/ReutersChildren run through the streets of Pamplona as they are chased by the Toro de Fuego (Flaming bull)David Ramos/Getty ImagesPeople take cover as the Toro de Fuego (flaming bull) runs through the streets of PamplonaPablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty ImagesA competitor carries a heavy stone during the rural Basque sports championship at the San Fermin festivalMiguel Riopa/AFPPatxi Larretxea cheers the tronzalaris (men using a traditional Basque saw) during a rural sports eventsAnder Gillenea/AFPAna Iraizoz comforts her sister and teammate Ainhoa after she sawed a tree trunk during a rural Basque sports event as part of the San Fermin festival in PamplonaAnder Gillenea/AFP
Traditional dances attended by the locals are held every evening, while the tourists engage in yet another bout of drinking themselves into a stupor, perhaps to give them enough courage to face the bulls – or an excuse not to have to.
Revellers take part in a traditional dance on the third day of the San Fermin festival in PamplonaDavid Ramos/Getty ImagesRevellers take part in the traditional El Baile de la Alpargata (Espadrille Dance) in the Casino Principal ClubDavid Ramos/Getty ImagesMembers of the band perform during the traditional El Baile de la Alpargata (Espadrille Dance) in the Casino Principal Club in PamplonaDavid Ramos/Getty ImagesPeople dance on a square in Pamplona during the San Fermin festivalPablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty ImagesBasque dancers perform during the parade of Gigantes and Cabezudos (Giants and Large Head Puppets)Cesar Manso/AFPPeople dressed in traditional red and white clothes sit around a fan to cool off themselves in PamplonaMiguel Riopa/AFPRevellers walk along the streets during the San Fermin festival in PamplonaPablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty ImagesRevellers enjoy the atmosphere around a statue depicting the running of the bulls in PamplonaDavid Ramos/Getty ImagesRevellers sleep on the street after a heavy night in PamplonaSusana Vera/ReutersRevellers sleep it off at the Plaza del Castillo on the seventh day of the San Fermin festival in PamplonaVincent West/ReutersA reveler sits on a doorstep in the early morning, surrounded by rubbishAnder Gillenea/AFPA reveller sleeps in a public park during the opening day of the San Fermin festival in PamplonaDavid Ramos/Getty ImagesA couple embrace on the grass in a park during the San Fermin festival in PamplonaEloy Alonso/Reuters
