Excitement Will Run Away with You at the Running of the Bulls 2012!
When is the Running of the Bulls 2012?
The Running of the Bulls is held in Pamplona as part of the San Fermin Festival and will be held from July 6 to July 14 in 2012. This particular event runs at 8 am each day from July 7th until the 14th.
What is the Running of the Bulls?
Many of us have seen this event on TV or the movies but may not realize what it truly is. In a morning race, the runners dash down a half mile stretch from the Santo Domingo corrals that go to the bull ring. These bulls are then killed later in the day during the daily bullfight. Six bulls are sent to run the course in addition to six tame steer.
What you need to know about the Running of the Bulls 2012
The run starts promptly at 8 am each day that it is run. All runners are advised to show up by 7 am. A few minutes before the event begins, the runners trust themselves to San Fermin and before the San Fermin statue, they sing three times. The song asks the Patron to guide them through the run and give them his blessings.
The first signal goes off at 8 am which is to announce that the gates are open and the second signal indicates that the bulls have all left. If there is a large gap between these two, there may be trouble. There is a third signal that indicates the bulls have a;; entered the ring and a fourth, and last signal, goes up when they have gone into the bullpens.
The whole event takes approximately three minutes from start to finish but can take longer if any of the bulls get separated. There are security guards and first aid people along the route just in case anyone needs assistance. But before a person gets too confident about their abilities, 15 people have been killed since 1924 and another 200 have been injured.
Rules when it comes to Running of the Bulls
- As with any events that has a dangerous element, there are rules but they are not always enforced.
- Participants must be 18 years of age or older
- You must be sober
- You must stay along the route – you cannot just run over the barriers – unless you are going to be attacked by a bull
- No hiding in corners, doorways or anywhere else that you can find
- Wear appropriate clothing and do not carry items which may impede you such as backpacks
- Do not distract or touch the animals
