Bull Run

The Running of the Bulls is a practice that involves running in front of a small group of bulls that are let loose within the streets of Spain, Pamplona, and Mexico.

The purpose of this event was in origin to transport the bulls from the off-site where they had spent the night, to the bullring where they would be killed in the evening. Youngsters would jump among them to show off their bravado.

Spanish lore says the true origin began in North-eastern Spain during the early 14th century. While transporting cattle in order to sell at the market, men would attempt to speed the process by hurrying their cattle using tactics of fear and excitement. After years of this practice, the transportation and hurrying began to turn into a competition, as young adults would attempt to race in front of the bulls and make it safely to their pens without being overtaken. When the popularity of this practice increased and was noticed more and more by the expanding population of Spanish cities, a tradition was created and stands to this day.

The event of Running of the Bulls is connected to Ernest Hemingway because he wrote about the San Fermin festival in Pamplona. He also writes about how graphic the running of the bulls was in his book The Sun Also Rises.