Running of the Bulls: A
Tradition of Cruelty
are quite sharp, and the animals often lose
their footing and slide into walls, breaking
bones and injuring themselves. All the bulls
who slip and slide on the streets of
Pamplona are running towards a bloody and
horrific death in the bullring.
Each year, more than 40,000 bulls are
barbarically slaughtered in Spain’s
bullrings. Most foreign visitors who
witness a bullfight never wish to see one
The magnificent animals who slip and slide
on the streets of Pamplona during the
again. They are repulsed, disgusted and
saddened by the cruelty of the spectacle.
“Running of the Bulls” are later
barbarically killed – all in the name of
At best, the term “bullfighting” is a
“tradition”. Torturing and killing a
misnomer, as there is usually little
defenceless animal should not be
competition between a nimble sword-
celebrated as tradition. People have always
wielding matador (Spanish for “killer”) and
tried to use tradition to justify horrible
a confused, maimed, psychologically
things, such as child labour and slavery. But
tormented and physically debilitated bull.
tradition doesn’t make something right.
Bullfighting is a cruel blood sport that
One of the biggest supporters of
should have been relegated to the history
bullfighting is the tourist industry. Travel
books a long time ago. No matter what its
agents and bullfight promoters portray the
history is, bullfighting consists of the
fight as a festive and fair competition.
torture, mutilation and slaughter of
What they do not reveal is that the bull
animals for entertainment.
never has a chance to defend himself,
much less to survive.
The ‘Running of the Bulls’
Bulls are intentionally debilitated by
Bulls are bred in fields and are not
various means, such as having sandbags
accustomed to the noise of the crowd or
dropped on their backs. Drugging is also
being surrounded by people. They are kept
very common. A study conducted by
in crowded, dark enclosures, and when
scientists at Spain’s Salamanca University
they are prodded onto the streets with
found that 20 per cent of the bulls used for
electric shocks, they are momentarily
fighting are drugged before they step into
blinded by the sunlight. They are terrified
the ring. In a sampling of 200 bulls, one in
and are hit by runners with rolled up
five had been given anti-inflammatory
newspapers. The corners of the bulls’ route
drugs, which mask injuries that could sap
another bull enters the arena and the
animals’ strength.
sadistic cycle starts again.
In a typical bullfight, the bull enters the
It is a very cowardly event. The matador
arena and is approached by picadors – men
has the choice to be there – the bull does
on blindfolded horses who drive lances into
not. From the moment he enters the ring
the bull’s back and neck muscles. This
from the dark alleyway where he is kept,
impairs the bull’s ability to lift his head.
the bull doesn’t stand a chance. He may be
They twist and gouge the lances to ensure a
weakened by beatings with sandbags, have
significant amount of blood loss. Then
the muscles in his neck cut in order to
banderilleros enter on foot and proceed to
prevent him from lifting his head up all the
distract the bull and dart around him while
way, be debilitated with laxatives, have his
plunging banderillas – bright sticks with
horns shaved or have petroleum jelly
harpoon points on their ends – into his
rubbed into his eyes in order to alter his
back. When the bull has become weakened
ability to judge distance.
from blood loss, the banderilleros run the
bull in more circles until he is dizzy and
Opposition to Bullfighting Opposition to
stops chasing. Finally, the matador appears
bullfighting is mounting both in Spain and
and, after provoking a few exhausted
elsewhere. In April 2004, the Barcelona
charges from the dying animal, tries to kill
City Council declared Barcelona an anti-
the bull with his sword. If he misses,
bullfighting city in an effort to eventually
succeeding only in further mutilating the
ban this primitive blood sport. Since then,
animal, an executioner is called in to stab
38 other Catalan municipalities have
the exhausted and submissive animal to
followed suit and the Catalonian
death. The dagger is supposed to cut the
Parliament has debated a bill that would
animal’s spinal cord, but even this can be
expand existing cruelty-to-animals laws to
blundered, leaving the bull conscious but
include bullfighting. According to a Gallup
paralysed as he is chained by his horns and
survey in October 2006, 72 per cent of
dragged out of the arena.8
Spaniards show no interest in bullfights, up
from 54 per cent in the ’80s. If Spain wants
If the crowd is happy with the matador, the
to increase tourism and be a progressive
bull’s ears and tail are cut off and
country, it needs to catch up with the
presented as a trophy. A few minutes later,
times and stop killing animals for
entertainment.
Pamplona Bull Run (San Fermin)
History of the Pamplona Bull Run
The festival of San Fermin, or the Pamplona bull running as it's more commonly
known outside Spain officially begins at midday on 6th July every year with the
'chupinazo' which takes place on the balcony of the Casa Consistorial in Pamplona.
Thousands of people congregate in the square awaiting the mayor's official
announcement that the fiestas have begun, a rocket is launched and the partying
begins.
The history of the bullrunning in Pamplona is not clear. There is evidence of the
festival from as far back as the 13th century when it seems the events took place in
October as this coincided with the festival of San Fermin on October 10th. It seems
that the modern day celebration has evolved from this as well as individual
commercial and bullfighting fiestas which can be traced back to the 14th century.
Over many years the mainly religious festival of San Fermin was diluted by music,
dancing, bullfights and markets such that the Pamplona Council proposed that the
whole event be moved to July 7th when the weather is far more conducive to such a
celebration. To this day San Fermin remains a fixed date every year with the first
bullrun at 8am on July 7th and the last at the same time on July 14th.
The first evidence of foreigners turning up in Pamplona for San Fermin are recorded
in chronicles from the 17th and 18th centuries when reference is made to the local
clergy being concerned about "the abuse of drink and the permisiveness of young
men and women". By now there was plenty music, dancing, drinking, street theatre
and bull running as the religious focus of the occasion took a back seat.
By the 19th century all kinds of fairground attractions were making their way to
Pamplona including human cannonballs and circus animals. The actual route of the
bull run didn't have a double security wall as is the case today so the bulls were able
to escape, creating chaos in the streets of Pamplona.
It was thanks to the writing of American writer Ernest Hemingway that San Fermin
developed the notoriety of today. The publication of his novel "The Sun Also Rises" in
1926 told the world about the Pamplona bull running festival which attracted people
from all over the world to this annual festival. Such is the popularity of the event
that overcrowding is a serious problem and if you're planning on staying there then
you should book accommodation many months in advance.
The Bull Run
The Pamplona bull run takes place at 8am every morning from 7th to 14th July.
Runners must be in the running area by 7.30am. The actual run stretches from the
corral at Santo Domingo where the bulls are kept, to the bullring where they will
fight that same afternoon. The length of the run is 825 metres and the average time
of the run from start to finish is about three minutes. The streets through the old
town which make up the bull run are walled off so the bulls can't escape. Each day
six fighting bulls run the route as well as two herds of bullocks.
The tension builds as the release of the bulls approaches and at 8am on the dot a
rocket is fired to confirm that the gate has been opened at the Santo Domingo
corral. Runners dressed in white with a red hankerchief around their necks pray to
San Fermin then a second rocket announces that the bulls have left. The bulls and
the runners then proceed along the route.
Watching the Bull Run
You can stand behind the fences that mark the route of the bullrun but you need to
arrive by around 6.30am to get the best spots on the top of the fence directly
overlooking the run. Another good spot is in front of the museum on c/ Santo
Domingo where there isn't a fence but the best spots here are usually taken before
6am leaving you with a cold two hour wait before the run starts.
A great alternative is to get yourself onto a balcony overlooking the bullrun. You
might be lucky enough to meet someone who invites you onto their terrace,
alternatively, ask in the tourist information office (c/ Esclava, 1). Your only other
options are to go to the bullring and watch the end as the bulls arrive in the arena or
to head for a bar and watch the bull run which is shown live every morning on
national TV.
Bullfight Tickets
Tickets for the bullfights are sold out well in advance as the arena only holds 12,500
people. Every evening after the day's bullfight some tickets go on sale for the next
evening's event at the 'taquillas' at the bull ring. You'll usually find ticket touts
operating around the Plaza de Toros during the day and before the bullfight selling at
elevated prices.