Sunday, July 6 at noon marked the beginning of yet another Festival of San Fermín. Revelers gather in the city of Pamplona, wearing the traditional pañuelo rojo (red handkerchief). The festival kicks of with el chupinazo, a special fireworks display that begins the festival each year. Its most well-known event, the running of the bulls or el encierro in Spanish had its first run yesterday morning at 8 a.m. and will occur each day until the end of the festival at the same time. Not for the faint of hear, this event is peligroso (dangerous) injuring 200-300 corredores (runners) each year.
Another traditional event, the Riau Riau, is a procession that traditionally involved city hall councilors, but is now held only unofficially without them to the tune of the Riau Riau of el Vals de Astrain played by a brass band over and over again. Below you can listen to the song and follow along with the letra (lyrics).
Photo Credits: Wikimedia and klmcmahon via Compfight cc
