The partying spree came to an end with the “encierro” of the 15th

15/07/2008. Some three hundred people, The Holy Patron and “Induráin” all turned up for the traditional event of the late-night revellers organized by the “15th of July Movement”

"The street is yours" or "The fiesta does not end when Barcina (The Mayor of Pamplona) says so" - were some of the war chants to be heard from the 300 odd people who attended punctually the special "running" or "encierro" of the 15th of July at eight o'clock in the morning . This event used to be called "encierro de la villavesa" (‘running with the city bus') until the authorities changed the bus route. This particular "encierro" is promoted by the "Movimiento 15 de julio" which tries to encourage people to celebrate this libertarian event as a symbol of the desire for the fiestas to continue.

As usual, after the "Pobre de Mí" closing ceremony at midnight, the "layman" procession started up Estafeta Street, which was joined by Charley the monkey - a popular character in Pamplona - and two "macebearers" leading the way. The event finished at 7.45 in the morning beside the niche of San Fermin in Santo Domingo. A novelty this year was the addition of the artistic musical installation of DJ Xuelto, which acted as both an amplifier and a "bull" and it covered the length of the course to the rhythm of music and it was side-stepping delivery vans and trucks as it moved along the course of the running of the bulls.

Not five minutes had passed from the moment the "rocket" went off for the "encierro" when "Miguel Induráin" on his bicycle reached the closed door of the bullring amid the sound of flares, shouts, cheers and the classic chant of "Induráin, Induráin." Along the way there were some charges made and the fictitious bulls and the runners crashed together violently at the corner of Mercaderes, which seemed to have lost its anti-sliding lotion. "Induráin" was overtaken by the musical "bull" where it made several charges near the premises of the Muthiko Peña Club, in Estafeta Street.

The background story

The origin of this popular "encierro" is told in a humorous vein by the "Movimiento 15 de Julio" itself. In the middle of the 1980's, "a group of some of the best revellers of the Pamplona nights, created the "running in front of the city bus" on the morning of the 15th. Within a short period of time, this city bus route was shut down by City Hall, accused of a transgression which it had not committed.

"During the following years of exile, a small van with horns and tail served to create panic among the "runners" of the 15th. In the middle of the decade of the ‘90's, "El Jotas" appeared (a young man dressed as Induráin) driving his famed bicycle, "La Espada". Up to the present, the runners continue to run in front of him. In 2003, the "Holy Patron Saint" appeared and, along with him, the Movimiento 15 de Julio. Even today, persecuted by City Hall, they manage to survive as partygoers of fortune so if you have any problem, and you come across them in some bar or other, maybe you could sign them up..."