For the thousands of tourists who visit the northern Spanish town of Pamplona every July, the San Fermin festival is all about the running of the bulls, but for locals it is an important religious festival and 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. Some say he was dragged through the street with bulls chasing him, hence the tradition in Pamplona.
Men carry a figure of San Fermin during a procession in PamplonaPablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty ImagesChildren watch out from window as a figure of the saint passes during the annual San Fermin procession in PamplonaPablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty ImagesA woman prays during the procession of San Fermin on the saint's day in PamplonaSusana Vera/ReutersA man carrying ears of wheat takes part in the San Fermin procession in PamplonaPablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty ImagesA man claps during the procession of San Fermin on the saint's day in PamplonaSusana Vera/ReutersA medallion of Saint Fermin hangs from the neck of a man during the procession on the saint's day in PamplonaSusana Vera/ReutersA participant touches a picture of Saint Fermin before the start the third bull run of the San Fermin festival in PamplonaAnder Gillenea/AFPThe mayor of Pamplona Joseba Asiron doffs his top hat as he takes part in a procession during the San Fermin festivalCesar Manso/AFP
The Chupinazo rocket is fired from the Pamplona town hall to mark the start of the San Fermin festivalCesar Manso/AFPRevellers pour wine into another's mouth as the festival beginsCesar Manso/AFPA naked reveller is thrown into the air during the official launch of the San Fermin festivalAnders Gillenea/AFPThe Pamplonesa band performs in front of the city's town hallAnder Gillenea/AFP
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.
People watch the parade of 'Gigantes y Cabezudos' (Giants and Big Heads) as part of the San Fermin festival in PamplonaCesar Manso/AFPA woman and her baby are attacked by a kiliki holding a sponge during the San Fermin festival in PamplonaJoseba Etxaburu/ReutersA girl laughs as she is chased by a "cabezudo" (big head) during the San Fermin festival in PamplonaEloy Alonso/ReutersA "kiliki" (big head) chases and hits children during a parade at Pamplona's San Fermin sestivalAnder Gillenea/AFPA "zaldiko" (horseman) hits people with a sponge during a parade as part of the San Fermin festival in PamplonaCesar Manso/AFPA child looks at Caravinagre (Vinegar Face) during a parade as part of the San Fermin festival in PamplonaCesar Manso/AFPA "cabezudo" (big head) stands next to revellers during the Comparsa de Gigantes y Cabezudos paradePablo 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.
Revellers run from the Fire Bull, a man carrying a bull figure packed with fireworks, at the San Fermin festival in PamplonaEloy Alonso/ReutersChildren run in the the "Encierro Txiki" (Small Bull Run) during the San Fermin festival in PamplonaMiguel Riopa/AFPA child runs pushing a toy bull on a street in Pamplona during the San Fermin festivalMiguel Riopa/AFPPeople run away from a Toro del Fuego (flaming bull) on the streets of PamplonaPablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images
The festival is also a celebration of traditional Basque pursuits such as stone carrying, wood carving and hay bale lifting. 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.
People take part in the traditional "Baile de la Alpargata" (Espadrille Dance) during the San Fermin festivalMiguel Riopa/AFPMen perform a traditional Basque dance in a street during the San Fermin festival in PamplonaAnder Gillenea/AFPPeople sing and play traditional music after having lunch in a street during the San Fermin festival in PamplonaAnder Gillenea/AFPA man stands next to graffiti reading, "Freedom For The Basque Country" at the San Fermin festival in PamplonaVincent West/ReutersA street vendor wears hats in traditional festival colours on the first day of the San Fermin festival in PamplonaVincent West/ReutersRevellers pose with a statue of US writer Ernest Hemingway during the San Fermin festival in PamplonaEloy Alonso/ReutersRevellers sleep before the second running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival in PamplonaEloy Alonso/ReutersRevellers sleep on the grass at the San Fermin festival in PamplonaSusana Vera/ReutersA reveller leaning on a wall sleeps in a street during the San Fermin festival in Pamplona,Miguel Riopa/AFP
