Pamplona’s famous running of the bulls festival gets under way
Pamplona’s famous running of the bulls festival gets under way with traditional fireworks as revellers dressed in their red scarves start nine days of partying by spraying each other with wine
- The ‘Chupinazo’ was blasted at 12pm local time in Pamploma, a city in northern Spain, to announce start
- Jesús Garísoain was chosen to launch the rocket in front of thousands of excited revellers earlier today
- The firework was met with an eruption of joy from the crowd who stained their clothes pink with wine
Pamplona’s famed running of the bulls festival was opened today by the blast of a traditional firework — marking the start of nine days of uninterrupted partying.
The ‘Chupinazo’ was blasted at 12pm local time in Pamploma, a city in northern Spain, to announce the start of the eight-day San Fermin fiesta.
A member of the city’s official brass band launched the rocket to mark 100 years since the group’s foundation.
Jesús Garísoain, the member chosen, declared ‘Long live San Fermin’, the saint honoured by the festival, as he spoke to crowds from the city hall’s balcony.
The blast was met with an eruption of joy from revellers who stained their traditional attire of white clothes and a red scarf pink as they sprayed each other with wine.
Water is thrown as revellers await the opening of the San Fermin Festival. As a young man holds a red bucket filled with water over his head crowds reach up before it lands and soaks them
The ‘Chupinazo’ was blasted at 12pm local time in Pamploma, a city in northern Spain, to announce the start of the eight-day festival. As the firework went off revellers threw wine over each other
A man has aptly dressed as a bull on the first day of the running bulls festival as red wine is thrown over him, staining his horns. Others behind him can be seen in the traditional all-white outfit with a red necktie
During the festival, Pamplona’s population swells from nearly 200,000 residents, as around a million visitors descend on the city to watch the bull runs along a 930 yard (850meter) street course to the city’s bullring.
The city is also trying to leave behind the scandal that stemmed from a gang rape of an 18-year-old woman during the 2016 festival. The initial prison sentences for sexual abuse to the five defendants was seen as too lenient and led to widespread public outcry, galvanising the country’s feminist movement.
Last month, Spain’s Supreme Court overruled the lower courts and sentenced the men to 15 years in prison for rape. In the full-length ruling, published on Friday, judges say the attackers were fully aware of the crime they were committing and bragged about it in a WhatsApp group that they called ‘The Animal Pack.’
One man falls from the shoulders of another as the crowd parts to give them room as revellers celebrate the start of the week-long fiesta
Revellers start celebrating early while waiting for the launch of the ‘Chupinazo’ rocket, to celebrate the official opening of the 2019 San Fermin fiestas with daily bull runs, bullfights, music and dancing in Pamplona, Spain
The traditional white outfit with a dash of red was ruined today as revellers threw wine over each other in celebration of the start of the San Fermin fiesta. Their clothes were quickly stained pink
Crowds wave their arms in the air as thousands of people descended on the square in front of the city hall moments before the ‘chupinazo’ was released
These revellers watch from the safety of their balcony as crowds below douse themselves in wine. Bullfights are protected under the Spanish Constitution as part of the country’s cultural heritage
The ‘Pamplonesa’ municipal music band performed alongside the start rocket to mark kickoff at noon sharp earlier today
Crowds flocked to the main square and watched from balconies in nearby buildings as the start cannon went off
Musical deputy director of the Spanish band ‘La Pamplonesa’ Jesus Garisoain (second right) and others pose as they take part in the traditional firing of the ‘chupinazo’ that marks the beginning of the Festival of San Fermin 2019 at City Hall Square in Pamplona, Spain
This man reached up as he is soaked in water. Women to the right of him and another man to his left brace themselves for the impact of the water as it falls
The case has led to authorities in Pamplona to step up police surveillance and set up information booths, cellphone apps and 24-hour hotlines allowing instant reporting of abuse cases.
The protests of pro-animal rights groups have also become a fixture in recent years. On the eve of the festival, dozens of semi-naked activists staged a performance simulating speared bulls lying dead on Pamplona’s cobbled streets to draw attention at what they see as animal cruelty for the sake of human entertainment.
Bullfights are protected under the Spanish Constitution as part of the country’s cultural heritage.
The fiesta of San Fermin began to honor the city’s first bishop, who was beheaded in France while preaching the gospel early in the third century.
Wine is drank from a wine skin during the opening. Wine skin is an animal skin that has been sewn up and used to transport and drink wine from
A view of the entire square as red neckties are held up by those gathered below — creating a sea of red. In the background mountains can be seen
Revellers are packed uncomfortably in to the main square as this woman appears to faint, pushing the two women behind her as she leans back in the crowd
As red neckties are held aloft balls are bounced along the heads of those in the crowd. The fiesta of San Fermin began to honor the city’s first bishop, who was beheaded in France while preaching the gospel early in the third century
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