El Chupinazo - San Fermin Festival Opening Ceremony
The Opening Ceremony the "Chupinazo" is marked by a rocket being launched from the city hall. The explosion of the fireworks rockets at midday on the 6th of July is the signal for the start of 9 days of non-stop partying. All morning crowds gather in the "Plaza Ayuntamiento" & there is not an inch of free space in the packed square. The passion & intensity grows every minute until it reaches a crescendo at midday. At that point the mayor and members of the council step out onto the balconies of the Town Hall to greet the crowds. A nominated person shouts the announcement "Pamploneses, Pamplonesas, Viva San Fermín! Gora San Fermín!" The crowd responds with cries of "Viva!" & "Gora!" and the rocket is launched into the midday sky. At this moment the square erupts as hundreds of bottles of champagne are popped & sprayed liberally over the crammed crowd.
The smart, clean clothes of the excited people take their first, but not their last soaking from the spraying of champagne. All over the city the same collective madness bursts out & a whole new atmosphere reigns in the town. The first bout of drinking has started as thousands of bottles of champagne are guzzled down for the start of an uninterrupted party until midnight of the 14th July arrives. The Chupinazo begins with such a high that for many people will last the whole week long.
The smart, clean clothes of the excited people take their first, but not their last soaking from the spraying of champagne. All over the city the same collective madness bursts out & a whole new atmosphere reigns in the town. The first bout of drinking has started as thousands of bottles of champagne are guzzled down for the start of an uninterrupted party until midnight of the 14th July arrives. The Chupinazo begins with such a high that for many people will last the whole week long.