- The annual San Fermin bull-running festival kicks off every year on July 6 in Pamplona Spain, and typically attracts 20,000 participants to run through the streets with bulls.
- But for the first time since the 1930s, the event was canceled due to the coronavirus.
- These photos, taken by Reuters photographer Jon Nazca, show what this year’s empty streets and arenas look like compared to the typically bustling festivities.
- Visit Insider’s homepage for more stories.
For eight days of the year, the cobbled streets of Pamplona, Spain, become a raucous frenzy of drinking, dancing, and running from bulls.
The annual San Fermin bull-running festival has been referred to as the “super bowl” of bull runs, and typically takes place every year between July 6 and 15.
But for the first time in nearly a century, the event has been canceled due to the coronavirus.
In pre-pandemic times, hundreds of thousands of people flock to the streets or their balconies to watch up to 20,000 participants run through winding roads in order to escape the wrath of six bulls each morning.
After a race that stretches over 2,000 feet, the bulls are brought to a fighting ring where they face off against professional matadors.
The event involves several parades, celebrations to honor Saint Fermin, and a copious amount of celebratory drinking.
To highlight what the festival would typically look like, Reuters photographer Jon Nazca held up photos from last years festival in their usual locations to show how the pandemic has changed things.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people gather in the streets to drink, dance, and watch participants run with the bulls from Jul 6 to 15.
Source: Insider
The San Fermin bull festival has become a cultural staple of Pamplona, Spain, and typically attracts up to 20,000 running participants.
Source: NBC
But for the first time since the Spanish Civil War, the festival has been canceled because of the coronavirus.
Source: NBC
To commemorate the event, Reuters photographer Jon Nazca held up past photographs in their locations to show what the festival would typically look like. Here, a man is seen drinking wine from a large bottle before the opening ceremony.
The festival begins with the firing of a rocket called a "chupinazo," which signifies the start of the eight-day-long celebration.
Source: San Fermines.net
During this event, crowds gather in front of the Pamplona Town Hall clad in red scarves to celebrate the start of the festival with bottles of champagne, and a roar of song and dance.
Source: San Fermines.net
This photo shows a band of musicians playing at last year's opening ceremony.
During the ceremony, people bring 'fire bulls' or bull s-aped figures stuffed with fireworks.
A number of parades take place throughout the festival, too. This photo shows people taking part in the "Procession of Giants and Big Heads," which is a march of 25 massive paper-mâché figures that dance through the street each morning.
Source: San Fermines.net
Here, two Cabezudos, or "Big Heads" are seen kissing during the procession.
Source: San Fermines.net
An additional parade to honor the Catholic Saint and the festival's namesake, St. Fermin, takes place each day.
Source:Insider
During this procession, "Zaldikos," or men wearing horse costumes, join in on the festivities.
Source: ABC
Then, on the second day of the festival, the first "encierro," or run, takes place.
Source: Insider
The running of the bulls originated in the 14th century, as a way to transport the animals from fields to the Town Square to sell. In 1926, the tradition was made popular by Ernest Hemingway's novel "The Sun Also Rises."
Typically, runs take place every morning starting at 8 a.m. To kick off the run, six bulls are released from the edge of Old Town and race through crowds of participants, composed of up to 20,000 people.
Source: NBC
Many running participants wear traditional all white outfits with a red scarf, and are referred to as "mozos."
The thrill-seeking run typically lasts about three minutes.
Source: Insider
The course runs 2,706 feet through winding Pamplona streets from a holding area to the bull ring.
Sources:Insider
The event can be quite dangerous, and hospitalizations are a yearly tradition. Last year, two Americans and one Spaniard were stabbed by bull horns, and at least 16 people have been killed since records began being kept in 1910.
Source: Insider
This photo shows a first-time participant sprinting quickly away as a bull trails behind him.
Before the run takes place, participants can be seen singing a traditional song together.
And some participants share breakfast.
After the run, when participants reach the bull ring, a professional bullfighter, or matador, takes over to fight and kill the animal.
Source: NBC
This photo shows an empty arena behind a slain bull from last year's festival. The bull-running festival has sometimes been condemned by both Spaniards and foreigners who view the process as cruel to animals and toxic for humans.
Source: Time Magazine
During the fight, bullfighting assistants work to lure in the bull before the matador lurches at it with a sword.
Typically, the arena is packed full of people anxiously awaiting the results of the fight.
Source: Insider
Here, a photograph of the Spanish bullfighter Antonio Ferrera shows the final moments of his sword striking a bull.
But the matador doesn't always have such an easy time. This photo from last year's festival shows a bullfighter being tackled to the ground by the animal.
And here, a man is seen on the ground at the entrance of the ring as a bull comes running out.
After the bulls are removed from the ring, an additional festivity involving fighting cows begins. The cows are smaller than the bulls and, one by one, are released into the ring and fighters join in and attempt to dodge them.
Source: NBC
This was the first time in four decades that the traditional festival didn't take place. Locals expressed sadness over the cancellation of the bull run, with one man telling NBC News that he felt "desolated."
Source: NBC
Though no live runs will take place this year, the state broadcaster TVE will play footage from previous runs each morning, and a mass for Saint Fermin will be held.
Source: NBC