The Patron Saint Of Pamplona
The 7th of July, San Fermin’s day, is the most important day of the whole fiesta. Thousands of people dressed in immaculate white clothes accompany the image of the Saint, which is paraded through the streets of the Casco Antigo(the old quarter) by the civil and church authorities of the city. Everyone in the procession is in full dress, and there is a lot of pomp and circumstance. The Giants appear for the first time of the fiesta in the procession as well as the Kilikis (six figures with large paper mache heads that represent the local councilors), The Zaldikos,(horse and rider) and The Cabezudos (These are solemn Big headed characters). The procession starts at 10a.m. and only takes place on the 7th of July.
San Fermin was the son of a Roman Senator Firmus that rules in Pamplona in the 3rd century. His son was converted to Christianity, he was ordained as a priest in Toulouse France, came back to Pamplona as a bishop and was beheaded in Amiens on September 25th 303AD.
The Capotico(the cloak) of San Fermin is thought to give one protection. When someone escapes a close situation people will say he was protected by the cape of San Fermin.
The Fiesta of San Fermin is to honor Pamplona’s Patron Saint. Many Fiestas through out Spain are centered around Saints. San Fermin has been taking place since the 1500’s, and not until Hemingway’s book The Sun Also Rises was the fiesta so popular.
The Running of the Bulls was not the reason for the original fiesta but something that became part of the fiesta. Hundreds of thousands of people come every year now to Pamplona to take part in this fiesta and to run with the bulls.
