The fiesta of San Fermin is an anniversary of the death of a great man who fought for Pamplona , Spain . Every year since 1591 the city of Pamplona has gotten ready for one of its biggest celebrations in the country of Spain . Fiesta in Pamplona calls a celebration like this “la fiesta: the Spanish fiesta, a people's reply to the cruelties of our condition, men's victory over death and perhaps also over the gods.” (Douglas 1997: 15). In about the third century A.D. the city of Pamplona belonged to the Roman Empire . During this time, San Saturnino, a French Bishop, had come to talk about religion with the local heathens. San Fermin was influenced so much by his teachings that he decided to leave Spain and go to France to learn to be a Bishop. After San Fermin became a Bishop he returned to help San Saturnino with is preaching, and after sometime he went back to France to spread the word of the lord in Amiens . During this process he got in trouble with the local authorities and was sentenced to death. San Fermin was tortured and beheaded. Parts of his body were spread around and supposedly lost forever, but most remains in the local Cathedral in Pamplona , Spain . (Pamplona Bull Run (San Fermin) 2004: website)
The fiesta of San Fermin is important to local religion by the way of holding a celebration in honor of a great saint. Religion is a major part of Pamplona , Spain and they want to keep their people religious. Religion enforces social and moral values, and gives a communal sense of well-being. Since the people of Spain know this, they do all they can to keep the celebration in the town of Pamplona . A lot of the people who participate in the celebration today see it as a time to celebrate, but a few still believe the ceremony helps them with their religious life. Since San Fermin's body is still in the local church in the city of Pamplona this fiesta is still looked at as honoring the Saint that tried to spread the word of the bible. Every year people come from around the world to pay homage to San Fermin. During the running of the bulls, the runners must pray to Saint Fermin three times to keep them safe and to give them the strength to go on. (Delpire 1956: 101,102)
During the opening ceremonies on July 6 th the mayor gives a speech and all of the people that live in the town go to hear him. During the mayors speech in honor of San Fermin the crowd cheers and even shout out in prayer to the Saint. A tradition that has just been recently started is one which is comical in manor. The people of the village decide to make it hard on the mayor, so as he is heading to the local Church, the villagers give him a hard time and try to slow him down. This is when the citizens can let their sentiments be heard by the mayor. (The Running of the bulls 2002: website)
This anniversary is a time when the villagers can socialize and celebrate the life of San Fermin within a communal setting. Socially, this celebration is a wonderful time to get to know everyone around you. People are encouraged to celebrate but also to be respectful of those who take the fiesta to be a religious event.
The running of the bulls has made the fiesta of San Fermin one of the most famous celebrations around the world. Many come to the fiesta just to see just how people act while running right in front of the bulls. The people who run annually are mostly very religious and do the run as a way to pray. To some the run symbolizes how strong they are in their faith. If they make it through without getting hurt, then that's God's way of saying that they lead very religious lives. (Delpire 1956: 101,102)
The fiesta of San Fermin has really helped the city of Pamplona survive economically. Much attention has been brought to the city by means of advertising this annual celebration of the Saint. Hotels are always full and it is very difficult to reserve time slots. About a year in advance is needed to reserve a room at a nearby hotel for the dates of July 6 th through the 14 th . This celebration is needed; otherwise Pamplona would be a very poor city.