First Encierro without injuries due to bull horns in Pamplona's Sanfermines

USPA NEWS - The first Encierro of the bulls of the Pamplona's Sanfermines in this 2022 of the reunion with the patron saint festivities of the Navarran capital was resolved without injuries from bull horns and with only five bruised from falls and blows received during the race. It was a fast running of the bulls, lasting only 2.35 minutes, with fewer runners than on other occasions, despite the fact that this Thursday was the big day of the festivities, the day of the patron Saint Fermín.

Unlike Wednesday, the day of the 'chupinazo' that kicked off the most internationally famous festivities on the Spanish calendar, when the rain failed to dampen the launch of the rocket, this Thursday dawned sunny and with good temperatures, which encouraged Pamplonese and visitors to fill the streets, some to run the Encierro of the bulls, others to see it and all to enjoy Navarrese gastronomy afterwards in the bars, booths installed in the main streets and parks of the city, and in the gastronomic societies. Navarra is a region with large areas of orchards and a wine tradition focused on rosé wines that has earned a place among the great Spanish wines in its own right.

At 8:00 o'clock in the morning, the six bulls that were fought in the bullring in the afternoon began their race to the bullring's pens. It was a fast race, with no injuries at all but with five bruises from falls and blows received during the race. Some of them were transferred to the Navarra Hospital to be treated for their injuries. Veteran runners say that 90 percent of those injured in the running of the bulls in Pamplona are due to falls and blows caused by clashes with other runners. Only 10 percent are injured by bull horns. This Thursday, San Fermín, on his big day, took care of the runners and the Encierro of the bulls took place without serious incidents.

San Fermín, the patron saint of Navarra, whose festivities are celebrated on July 7, walked through the streets of Pamplona in procession, accompanied by the Bishop of Navarra and the first civil authorities of Navarra and Pamplona. Thousands of people crowded the streets of the historic center of Pamplona to accompany the saint, whose image is venerated in the church of San Lorenzo in the Navarran capital.

Between the Encierro of the bulls and the procession, the people of Pamplona and visitors devoted themselves to touring the bars of the old town in search of a good breakfast or, the more daring, given the early hour, beer or calimocho, a combination of red wine and Coca Cola that sweeps the bars of northern Spain. Also in the gastronomic societies, popular in the northern regions - especially in the Basque Country, Navarra and La Rioja -, which gathered indoors or in the street to taste some fried eggs with chistorra traditional in the gastronomy of the festivities.

Pamplona boils with people and activities in these Sanfermines of reunion, after two years in which they were not celebrated due to the Covid-19 pandemic. And the bars take advantage of it. Near the Pamplona City Hall, Saúl Layos, a waiter at the Mol bar, tells USPA News that, compared to the fifteen barrels of beer they spend in a week, only on the day of the 'chupinazo' they spent sixteen. Other bars in the area have the same. And this despite the fact that prices have risen and this year, eating or drinking during Sanfermines is more expensive.

The Ukraine's war is to blame. Due to its effects on the economy of all of Europe, electricity, gas, raw materials and transport, among many other concepts, have raised their prices and bars must pass on this increase to their customers. For some bars and restaurants, it is worth it because in the Sanfermines they achieve up to 60 percent of their turnover for the whole year. And at the festivities of the Navarran capital, residents and tourists forget about the economy and concentrate on enjoying themselves.