Thousands of revelers crammed into the main square and adjacent narrow streets of northern Pamplona on Sunday, July 6, 2014 for the start of Spain's famed San Fermin running of the bulls festival.
The nine-day fiesta, an uproarious blend of hair-raising daily bull runs and all-night partying, was immortalized in Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." The event still attracts huge crowds — and headlines of people being injured by the bulls — every year. Most get hurt after tripping and falling in the rush, but some are gored and trampled by the large, muscle-laden beasts. Late in the afternoon the bulls will face matadors and be killed in the ring. Animal rights activists protested Saturday, warning that 48 bulls are killed at the festival each year.
Revelers arrive at the bull ring beside ''Dolores Aguirre Ybarra'' fighting bulls during the running of the bulls at the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona, Spain, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. Revelers from around the world arrive to Pamplona every year to take part in some of the eight days of the running of the bulls glorified by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)Revelers celebrate during the launch of the 'Chupinazo' rocket, to celebrate the official opening of the 2014 San Fermin fiestas, in Pamplona, Spain, Sunday, July 6, 2014. Revelers from around the world kick off the festival with a messy party in the Pamplona town square, one day before the first of eight days of the running of the bulls glorified by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)Revelers run away followed by a flaming fake bull "Toro de fuego" during the second day of the 2014 San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 7, 2014. Revelers from around the world arrive to Pamplona every year to take part on some of the eight days of the running of the bulls glorified by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)Revelers are chased by Dolores Aguirre's ranch fighting bulls during the running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona, Spain, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. Revelers from around the world arrive in Pamplona take part in the eight-day running of the bulls glorified by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)Revelers run with Torrestrella ranch fighting bulls during the running of the bulls of the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 7, 2014. Revelers from around the world arrive in Pamplona every year to take part on some of the eight days of the running of the bulls glorified by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)A couple of picadors, horsemen with a spear that participates in a bullfight, wait before a bullfight of the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 7, 2014. Revelers from around the world arrive in Pamplona every year to take part on some of the eight days of the running of the bulls glorified by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)Revelers hold up their hands during the launch of the 'Chupinazo' rocket, to celebrate the official opening of the 2014 San Fermin fiestas, in Pamplona, Spain, Sunday, July 6, 2014. Revelers from around the world kick off the festival with a messy party in the Pamplona town square, one day before the first of eight days of the running of the bulls glorified by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)Spanish bullfighter Daniel Luque aims his sword before killing a bull during a bullfight of the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 7, 2014. Revelers from around the world arrive in Pamplona every year to take part on some of the eight days of the running of the bulls glorified by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)The body of a bull is pulled from the bullring after a horseback bullfight at San Fermin Fiestas, in Pamplona, Spain, Sunday, July 6, 2014. Revelers from around the world kick off the festival with a messy party in the Pamplona town square, one day before the first of eight days of the running of the bulls. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)A Torrestrella ranch fighting bull looks from the arena during a bullfight of the San Fermin festival, in Pamplona, Spain, Monday, July 7, 2014. Revelers from around the world arrive in Pamplona every year to take part on some of the eight days of the running of the bulls glorified by Ernest Hemingway's 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises." (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)Hands of an anti-bullfighting demonstrator covered with blood are seen during a protest against the bull runs, on the Ayuntamiento Square in Pamplona northern Spain, Saturday, July 5, 2014. On July 6, the San Fermin festival will begin with the ''txupinazo'' , the opening ceremony with people participating in bull runs, music and dance, through the old street of the city. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos)
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