2023-07-12 16:57:45
The worldwide recognition of San Fermin Holidays, in the Spanish city of Pamplona at the beginning of July, has turned them into a multicultural experience, and is a “culture shock” for a large number of Latin Americans who are approaching this celebration for the first time. This is what Rocío Wittib, an Argentine writer, told EFE ‘Guiri of the year’ award of these Sanfermines; Felipe Ferreira, a Brazilian dancer who is a member of ‘Dragons de San Sebastián’, a ‘break dance’ group that performed in Pamplona this July; and Lucía Montalbán, from Ecuador, who, like any other attendee, experienced them accompanied by her family and friends.
The distinction that Wittib receives is the product of the strong influence that foreigners have in this party, which has been held since July 6, the most international of those in Spain. The ‘Guiri of the Year’ awards were created 20 years ago by the Spanish cartoonist Mikel Urmeneta, and invite the “internationalization of the festival, Navarrese traditions and their singularities”.
After having lived through eight Sanfermines, the Argentine creator says that she moved to Pamplona “for love” and remembers how was the first time you came across the celebration. “I was very impressed by the atmosphere in the street (…). The normal city has nothing to do with the city in the Sanfermines. The days before San Fermín the city begins to fill up. I loved that change“, narrates the writer, who affirms that today she lives the festivities “as one more person from the city”.
However, all three agree that the running of the bulls, a wild cattle race with hundreds of people in the streetsis something “very new” for them. “San Fermín is a very famous festival in Brazil, (…) But I got to know a little about the running of the bulls, that is something very new for us,” Felipe clarifies, although what stands out the most is diversity.
“What I like the most is the union of cultures, I notice a lot of people from outside. I see many Brazilians who come to enjoy the festivities” specifies the artist, who was born in Brazil, but currently lives in the Basque Country, a region in northern Spain bordering France.
What do you think of the bulls?
Rocío Wittib affirms that she likes them the festivities “beyond the bulls”, but recognizes that the bullfighting world represents a clash with respect to its culture. “I was here in San Fermín and I noticed that the bulls were something important. Out of curiosity they invited me to the bullring one afternoon to see a bullfight. I arrived, I saw the first bull and I left crying“he adds.
“What I claim for San Fermín is the popular festival, which goes far beyond the bullfights. There are other things that make the festival something very beautiful, such as concerts, popular dances, live music, the traditions of ( the region of) Navarra”, the young narrator told EFE, who “does not rule out” writing about the festivities.
“(Ernest) Hemingway wrote a very famous book, ‘Fiesta’, that internationalized the Sanfermines a lot, but it is very much based on the bulls. I claim another party (…) and I do not rule out writing about that environment that is generated, which is much more beautiful,” says the Argentine.
Lucía Montalbán was born in Ecuador, but has lived in Pamplona for 20 years and never misses the festivities of the patron saint of the capital of Navarra. “I like it because people come from all over the world, this was very new for me,” says Montalbán, who adds that at these parties “people are very open and going to have fun“.
As a mother, she also stresses that the festivities are a place for “children and young people” to enjoy. The festivities of San Fermín have been celebrated since the 14th century to honor the co-patron of Navarra and patron of the running of the bulls.
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