Colors of Pamplona - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

Travelers planning a visit to Pamplona in the middle of July will have a chance to witness a holiday of ultimate beauty being the San Fermines festival. Each year the festival starts on July, 6 and lasts for 9 days. For this period the city of Pamplona turns into a huge bullfight arena. The city is filled with buzzing and vivacious atmosphere. This bright ethnic fest was described in the novel “Fiesta” by Ernest Hemingway. The writer first visited the event in 1923.

Then the young writer worked for a popular Canadian weekly newspaper and visited the city of Pamplona on business. It can be said without prejudice that it was his novel which rocketed the festival to fame. About 90% of foreign guests visiting the festival proved that fact. A hundred years ago the festival featured unique rules. Many traditions have been preserved till nowadays and have been embodied in the modern format of the fest.

Thus, the main event of the festival is still bright bullfights. During the holiday everybody should be polite towards each other. Any violation of the traditions and rules as well as public order offence will stir resentment. This was the practice a hundred years ago and it has been preserved till nowadays. A remarkable fact is that even wanted criminals could take part in the events of the festival. During the festival they were immune, however any order and peace disturbance during the festival equaled to serious crime. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The festival starts exactly at high noon on July, 6. On this day all the city residents gather on the square at the city hall building. A fired from the balcony signal rocket marks the opening of the festival. Each day in the morning hours the bulls are run through the central streets of the city. And in the evening guests of the festival may witness the brightest bullfighting shows. There is a traditional costume which a participant of the festival should wear visiting the significant events of the ethnic holiday.

The costume consists of white clothing added with bright red accessories. Every clothing boutique and street concession stands offer a vast choice of bright white shirts and trousers as well as bright red belts and kerchiefs within the holiday. The festival presents the brightest performances of the best matadors of the country that is why a visit to the bullfighting show will turn to an exciting adventure for every tourist. Among other events held within the festival tourists will see different concerts, dance shows, competitions, master classes and contests. At nightfall the city is illuminated with bright pyrotechnic shows. Astonishing concerts are held in the open air. The festival ends at midnight on July, 14 when the local folks gather again on the square at the city hall building and sing loath to depart.