San Fermin Song

Every morning during the San Fermin festival, the “encierro” runners gather by the San Fermin figure located at the first section of the run (Santo Domingo street) to perform the San Fermin famous chant as a ritual prior to running with the bulls. This tradition goes back to 1962, and it’s seen as a way to respectfully ask San Fermin to protect the runners during the world-known “encierro” tradition. The song is chanted three times during the following exact times: 7:55 am, 7:57 am, and 7:59 am, and it is sung while shaking rolled up newspapers back and forth. 

Here’s the San Fermin song lyrics in Spanish and Euskera (Basque language). The chant is sung in both languages. 

Spanish: 
A San Fermín pedimos, por ser nuestro patrón, 
nos guíe en el Encierro, dándonos su bendición  
¡VIVA SAN FERMÍN! ¡VIVA!

Euskera: 
Entzun arren San Fermin, su zaitugu patroi, 
zuzendu gure oiñak, entzierro hontan otoi
GORA SAN FERMIN! GORA!

English Translation:
To San Fermin we ask, for being our patron,
To guide us in the “encierro,” by giving us his blessing
LONG LIVE SAN FERMIN!