Bull runs are a traditional part of summer festivals across Spain. Dozens of people are injured, yet, each year, people come to glimpse the Spanish custom.
In Pamplona’s festivals, 15 people have died from being hurt in bull runs. Of course, there could have been more, but the record-keeping began in 1924 for the San Fermin festival.
This fiesta is held annually and it celebrates the city’s patron saint. The celebration dates back to the late 16th century, and it appears that Ernest Hemingway is responsible for making it famous, as he wrote about it in his 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises. This seems to be the moment it began attracting thousands of tourists.
Ten people, including four Americans, have been gored in this year’s festival
Thousands of people racing the fighting bulls can be seen daily. Pro matadors kill the bulls in bullfights each afternoon during the festival.
Despite the danger involved in this celebration, the number of tourists and thrill-seekers arriving stand amazing each year. Thousands of people risk their health–and even their lives–just to be part of this insane manner of celebration.
Two people were hurt during the second last day
People are hurt each day of the festival. According to the Red Cross spokesman, everyone who is gored receives medical care and treatment. Some of them have only sprains and bruises, but there are people who break part of the body, such as the collarbone.
Many Tourists Put Their Life in Danger
Even if the majority of injuries are sustained by Spaniards, the number of people who cross the world in order to see these bull runs is impressive. This is the reason why many foreigners get hurt, each day of the nine-day festival.
Many of the people who come from abroad don’t even know what they are looking at, and what to expect from the fiesta, coming without even knowing that they will be part of something well known for its cruelty.
However despite its cruelty, and even if a great part of Spain has already made bull runs illegal, Pamplona seems to be far from putting an end to this celebration.
