PAMPLONA, Spain -- Thousands of revelers celebrated Wednesday as the traditional "chupinazo" firework was ignited to start the San Fermin bull-run festival in the Spanish city of Pamplona, ending a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Rain did nothing to dampen the atmosphere, as crowds, nearly all dressed in the traditional garb of white trousers and shirt with red sash and neckerchief, crammed the tiny town hall square for the noon event. After the firework exploded, the revelers continued spraying each other with red wine.
The highlight of the nine-day festival is the early morning "encierros," or bull runs, starting today, when thousands of thrill seekers scramble to avoid six bulls as they charge along a winding, cobblestoned route to the city's bullring. Spectators watch from balconies and the wooden barricades set up to line the course. The rest of each day is for eating, drinking, dancing and cultural entertainment.
The festival was made world famous by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." Before the pandemic made it impossible to hold in 2020 and 2021, it hadn't been suspended since the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.
Pamplona's population of some 200,000 balloons to nearly a million on peak days during the festival, especially over the weekend, including many foreigners.
Former soccer player and coach Juan Carlos Unzue had the honor of launching the little rocket from the town hall balcony. Unzue had to retire from coaching in 2018 after being diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disease ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
"This 'chupinazo' is dedicated to all those health workers and people who helped us during the pandemic, and to all those suffering from ALS. Long live San Fermin," he shouted from a wheelchair to the throng below.
City officials urged people to not forget that Coronavirus infections are on the rise again and encouraged the use of masks.
Animal rights protesters have also become a fixture in Pamplona. On the eve of this year's festival, dozens of activists dressed as dinosaurs and held "Bullfighting is Prehistoric" signs as they ran the bull-run route to protest what they see as animal cruelty, urging tourists not to participate.
The bulls used in the runs are killed by professional matadors in bullfights each afternoon in the city ring.
Information for this article was contributed by Joseph Wilson of The Associated Press.
Gallery: Running of the bulls returns to Pamplona
