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In PHOTOS: Smashing party with Spanish bulls

The festival of San Fermin, or the Pamplona bull running as it is more commonly known outside Spain officially begins at midday on July 6 every year with the 'chupinazo', which takes place on the balcony of the Casa Consistorial in Pamplona. 

Thousands of people congregate in the square awaiting the mayor's official announcement that the fiestas have begun, a rocket is launched and the partying begins.

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Smashing party with Spanish bulls

The history of the bullrunning in Pamplona is not clear.

There is evidence of the festival from as far back as the 13th century when it seems the events took place in October as this coincided with the festival of San Fermin on October 10. 

Smashing party with Spanish bulls

It seems that the modern day celebration has evolved from this as well as individual commercial and bullfighting fiestas which can be traced back to the 14th century.

Smashing party with Spanish bulls

Over many years the mainly religious festival of San Fermin was diluted by music, dancing, bullfights and markets such that the Pamplona Council proposed that the whole event be moved to July 7 when the weather is far more conducive to such a celebration.

Smashing party with Spanish bulls

To this day San Fermin remains a fixed date every year with the first bullrun at 8 am on July 7 and the last at the same time on July 14.

The joining together of the religious, commercial and bullfighting festivals and the move to July 7 led to the first official celebration of San Fermines in 1591.

Smashing party with Spanish bulls

This inaugural fiesta was a low key affair in comparison to the modern day running of the bulls as it only lasted two days although there was much merriment involving music, a procession and a bullfight. 

Smashing party with Spanish bulls

Dancing and fireworks became features of the festival over the next few years and the event was extended to July 10.

The Pamplona bull run takes place at 8 am every morning from July 7 to 14. Runners must be in the running area by 7.30 am.

Smashing party with Spanish bulls

The actual run stretches from the corral at Santo Domingo where the bulls are kept, to the bullring where they will fight that same afternoon. 

The length of the run is 825 metres and the average time of the run from start to finish is about three minutes. 

Smashing party with Spanish bulls

The streets through the old town, which make up the bull run are walled off so the bulls can't escape. 

Each day six fighting bulls run the route as well as two herds of bullocks.

Smashing party with Spanish bulls

The tension builds as the release of the bulls approaches and at 8 am sharp a rocket is fired to confirm that the gate has been opened at the Santo Domingo corral. 

Runners dressed in white with a red hankerchief around their necks pray to San Fermin then a second rocket announces that the bulls have left. The bulls and the runners then proceed along the route.

Smashing party with Spanish bulls

The most dangerous part of the bullrun approaches as there's a closed curve leading into Estafeta, which is the longest stretch of the run.

Next comes a small section of Duque de Ahumada, which is known as the Telefonica stretch. 

Smashing party with Spanish bulls

The last stretch is also very risky as the route leads into a dead end street providing access to the Bull Ring.

A third rocket is set off once all the bulls have entered the bullring and the fourth, and final, rocket means that the bulls are now in the bullpen and the bullrun has finished.

Smashing party with Spanish bulls

The vast number of people taking part in the bullrun nowadays adds to the already considerable danger of running alongside wild bulls weighing in the region of 700kg each. 

Too many drunks taking part also increase the risks for everybody. 

Smashing party with Spanish bulls

There are plenty security guards and first aid personnel but there is little they can do during the running of the bulls such that 15 people have died and over 200 been seriously injured since 1924.

A great alternative is to get yourself onto a balcony overlooking the bullrun. You might be lucky enough to meet someone who invites you onto their terrace