About San Fermin

Statuette of San Fermin

San Fermin was a christian missionary & the Patron Saint of Amiens, Lesaka, Pamplona & Co-patron of Navarra along with St Francis Xavier & patron saint of boot makers, wine traders & bakers. Decapitated at age 31 in Amiens, France, where he baptised over 3000 people. His veneration is not recorded until the 12th century thanks to litanies from Amiens, in which he appeared from the 8th century onwards The San Fermin Festival religious origins are still honored to this day by the public display of "The Procession" on the morning of July 7th. This religious event is in perfect unison with the "culture of the bull", a symbolic animal, & the cult of Bacchus, the "god of wine", a symbolic drink. Worshiping San Fermin in Pamplona took place long before the festival and his image is still the focus around which this universal "fiesta" revolves. According to tradition, a man called Honesto arrived in Roman Pamplona in the 3rd century. He had been sent by San Saturnino (also known as San Cernín) to evangelise the city and he converted senator Firmo and his family to the christian faith. His son Fermín was christened by San Saturnino at the place now known as the Pocico de San Cernin(little well of San Cernín) and was ordained into the priesthood in Toulouse (France).

Giant dish at the food fair!

"The Fiesta" is related to 3 celebrations: Religious Ceremonies in honour of San Fermin, Trade Fairs and Bullfights, which were first documented in the 14th century. Initially, the fiesta of San Fermin was held on October 10th, but in 1591 the people of Pamplona, fed up with the bad weather at that time of year, decided to transfer the fiesta to July so it would coincide with the Trade Fair. 

Bullfighting Pamplona Spain

Chronicles from the 17th & 18th centuries tell us of religious events together with music, dance, tournaments, acrobats, giants, bullruns & bullfights, plus the clergy's concern at the excessive drinking & dissolute behaviour of young men & women. They also refer to the presence of people from other lands, whose shows "made the city more fun". This is how the Festival of San Fermin was born.

Kililis & Zaldikos Parade in the Old Town of Pamplona

In the 19th century there were curious fairground attractions such as a woman fired from a cannon, exotic animals or wax figures, while the Comparsa de Gigantes (parade of giants) had new carnival figures with big heads, kilikis and zaldikos. Furthermore, the absence of a double fence in the bull run meant that the bulls escaped on several occasions and ran around the city streets. Other events were added later, such as fireworks and dances, and the fiesta lasted until July 10th.

Book Pamplona Accommodation here

Singing infront of San Fermin statue Cuesta de Santo Domingo Pamplona

A few minutes before the daily bullrun or encierro begins, the runners plead to San Fermin & sing the "San Fermin Song" 3 times before the statue of the saint adorned with the red panuelo of the peñas on the Cuesta de Santo Domingo.

Spanish: "A San Fermin pedimos, por ser nuestro patrón, nos guíe en el encierro & dándonos su bendición".

English: "To San Fermin we ask, you are our patron saint, guide us in this bullrun & give us your benediction"

Essential Hemingway

The Festival of San fermin, first made famous outside Spain by Ernest Hemingway in his novel "The Sun Also Rises" (also known as "Fiesta"), takes place each year from 6th-14th July.

Written in 1926, attracted people from all over the world to come to the fiestas of Pamplona. The 20th century also witnessed new events within the fiesta such as the Riau-Riau (suspended since 1991), the Chupinazo, & the cultural programme.

Book Pamplona Balconies here.