Dates of Fiesta

San Fermin
Patron saint of bakers, wine merchants and wine-skin makers.

Colors of the Fiesta are white and red. Apparel is white shirt and pants with red scarf and red sash.

Who was San Fermin?

So who was San Fermin, and why this huge party in his honor?
It seems he was the son of a local patriarch of Pamplona in the 3rd century A.D. The french Bishop, San Saturnino, came to Pamplona to spread the word of God, and he became Ferminus' mentor. Then Fermin went to Toulouse to study and become a bishop. Then he went to work in Amiens, where he annoyed a lot of important people, and was beheaded and buried there.

The story got back to Pamplona, and he became a local hero and martyr.  They started an annual Festival in his honor. Now everybody dances, drinks and parties into a stupor in his name. They're a very festive crowd here in Pamplona, and it's as good a reason as any to throw a big party for a week.

The Chupinazo

On July 6th at 12 noon... in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (the Town Hall Square), the Chupinazo (the Opening Ceremonies) commences the Fiesta of San Fermin. 
Shortly before 12 noon, the Mayor and the Town Council members appear on the Town Hall balcony, while thousands of people, all squashed together, push and shove, dance and sing while they wait for the Mayors words.  The plaza is filled beyond capacity, and all you can see is a sea of white and red.

The Mayor shouts to the crowd: "Pamploneses, pamploneses, Viva San Fermin!!  Gora San Fermin!!"
Once the Mayor addresses and cheers the crowd, the crowd goes nuts, screaming and yelling holding their handkerchiefs up high in respect to San Fermin, the patron saint of the Fiesta.  And the quiet town of Pamplona is converted into frenzy from this moment on that will last 10 days.

The Riau-Riau

The official program of San Ferm?­n has never registered any festive San Fermin acts under the name of "Riau riau". In fact, it was the March of the Mayor and the Municipal Corporation from the Ayuntamiento to the Vespers of San Ferm?­n. But it has recently been prohibited, as you will find out why.

Traditionally, on the 6 of July, at 5 in the afternoon, the Mayor and the Town Council members, dressed in top hats and smoking suits, escorted by the Pamplonesa marching band, make their way to the Church of San Lorenzo (where the San Fermin chapel is located) to attend the San Fermin Vespers (the San Fermin evening mass) in honor of the patron saint of the city.

The Riau-Riau consists of making fun of, insulting, and delaying the Mayor and the Town Council authorities in arriving to the Church of San Lorenzo. Basically, if you had a gripe, and you needed to vent, you were invited to come out and give the Mayor and the City Council a hard time while you took a stroll towards the church of  San Lorenzo.  Meanwhile, the crowd would sing the Waltz of Astr??in over and over again, while shouting at the mayor and blocking the path to the church.

The tradition was born in 1914 when the Carlista party member, Ignacio Baleztena obstructed the passage of a mayor of different political lines from his, insulting him and berating him, using obscene language. Then more people joined in, and by the 1930's, the march was obstructed on average about 60 minutes in trying to get to the church. And in 1980's, it took the Town Council and Municipal authorities 5 hours to walk 550 meters. About a yard per minute.

In 1991 the mayor at the time prohibited the event for good.