The San Fermín festival is infamous. Outside of Spain, well at least here in Australia, it is known as ‘The Running Of The Bulls Festival.’
Every year there is a thirty second slot reserved on the news to remind us of what goes on at this event.
The San Fermín festival is held in Pamplona every year between the 6th and 14th of July. Over one million people attended the event this year. Everyday there is a race held in a cordoned off section of the streets. The race is between man and bull.
The aim: to get as close to the bull as possible without dying!
I remember when I was 16 years old watching the nightly news with my parents. At this time of year, there would always be footage of yet another tourist wounded in this bizarre yearly celebration.
After watching this footage one night, my father made me promise that I would never run. I did make him that promise. At the time, I didn’t actually think that I would one day be there watching it live.
But in 2012, I had that chance. I did get to see the event live. And I can say that I got more from that crazy 24 hours than I ever expected to.
I learnt a lot about this festival, the small town in the north of Spain that hosts the event and the local’s attitudes towards it.
I also learnt that the festival isn’t only about a high risk encounter with the bulls. It is much more. The way the city comes alive at night can only be seen to be believed.
In today’s podcast episode, I will share my experience going to this event. I will try to paint a picture of what it is like to be there and party with the locals.
I will also share what you should know if you are ever planning on going. And I will talk about one key mindset lesson about learning Spanish that I got from a young guy I met while waiting for the running to start.
For whether I kept my promise to never run in the event, you will have to listen to today’s podcast to find out.
The quote from today’s episode:
“Everyone is trying to accomplish something big, not realizing that life is made up of little things.” – Frank A. Clark
How can you use today’s mindset tip to focus this week in your study?
Podcast: Play in new window
As a vegetarian, and the partner of a person who has very strong views on animal welfare ethics, I would find it difficult to enjoy the bull running. However, my views on this could be wrong; I would have to go and speak to the people to know for sure. Perhaps it’s a good excuse to converse.
I’d love to go to La Tomatina in Buñol. I suspect that a few tons of tomatoes being squashed would weigh easier on my conscience.
Yeah it’s a definitely a good opportunity to chat with locals about their thoughts on a topical issue. I went to a bull fight on my first trip to Spain. I could never go again.
My observations are that the majority of Spaniards aren’t that interested in the bulls or the bull fights. There is only a small minority that like it. But that group of people absolutely love it.