San Fermín’s namesake festival started way back in the Middle Ages, and is now arguably Spain’s most iconic event. Originally a religious celebration, the event honors Pamplona’s first bishop and commemorates his beheading and martyrdom in the Catholic Church. Legend has it, the man died being dragged through the streets, chased by bulls.
San Fermin is actually a collection of various Navarre traditions, starting as cattle fairs where ranchers would arrive in town to showcase their livestock. Bullfighting became the annual tradition in the 14th century, with the first official bullring built in 1844. The original religious festivities were held Oct. 10, before Pamplona residents moved to July 7 in 1591 to coincide with the cattle fairs and to take advantage of the warmer weather.
The Running of the Bulls © Jborzicchi | Dreamstime
The Running of the Bulls started in the 17th and 18th centuries, as well as concerns over foreign tourists and rowdy crowds due to drinking. Los Gigantes y Cabezudos (Giants and Big-Heads) parade was added at the end of the 1800s, becoming a fixture in many Latin festivals. San Fermín reached worldwide fame with the publication of The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway, who was inspired by his 1925 visit to Pamplona.
Today more than one million visitors come to see the festival every year, which is comprised of several events, the most famous of which is the Running of the Bulls. The tradition was originally a practical way of getting bulls from their corrals to the bullring in the city, with people jumping in to speed them up. This practice grew into a competition where young men and women race in front of the bulls to safety, and eventually grew into a cultural tradition in Spain.
La Fiesta de San Fermin © Mmeeds | Dreamstime
A run is held every morning of the festival at 8 a.m. Six bulls and six steers run a 903-yard track, with an average speed of 15 mph. While goring is not common, it can be life threatening, though most of the Running’s injuries are contusions from falls and are not serious. Since record keeping began in 1910, there have only been 15 deaths in the bull run, and safety has been a top priority with 200 medical professionals and 20 ambulances on hand.
San Fermín inspired similar festivals and bull runs all over Spain and the world. Not all of them actually use bulls, so if you’re interested in the original festival, visit bullrunpamplona.com.
Bull Running Monument of Pamplona, Spain © Wim Wyloeck | Dreamstime
Read This Next
#TrazeeTravel
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Oct 23, 2026Huntington Beach is California’s First Sensory-Inclusive Destination
KultureCity, the world's leading nonprofit focused on sensory accessibility and acceptance, named Huntington Beach as California’s first Sensory Inclusive-certified destination.
Sponsored Content
TAP Air Portugal: A Milestone Year
From small airline to global success, TAP Air Portugal turns 80 and better than ever.
North America
Oct 22, 2026Take a Rage-Therapy Retreat at This New York City Hotel
Rage rooms are all the hype right now, and rightfully so. It’s a form of therapy in itself, and the trend now extends beyond designated rooms to hospitality. One boutique lifestyle hotel in the heart of New York City’s Times Square recently partnered with Lower East Side-based rage room The Ragery, where guests can safely let their rage soar to different levels.
Destinations / North America
Oct 22, 2026Stay in This Restored 1920s School Campus
In Fayetteville, West Virginia, you can now stay in what was once the town’s high school and middle school, thanks to the opening of Hill Hall Hotel. The 40-guestroom boutique property stretches out over the 1923 high school and Mid-Century middle school buildings, retaining some of the original architecture and layout, while updating amenities to meet modern travelers’ needs.
Sponsored Content
The Province That Surrounds Seoul — And Outshines It
Skip the Seoul Crowds. The Real Korea is in Gyeonggi.
6 Skincare Mistakes to Avoid Before and After a Flight This Winter
An airplane’s cabin is already dry, but add in the winter climate and your skin practically begs for help. This season, keep skin healthy and moisturized by avoiding these six common mistakes when traveling:
ShareThis