Pamplona embraces San Fermin

08/07/2009. Both Old and Young crowded the streets to pay homage to the saint

Thousands of people accompanied San Fermin on his parade through the streets of Pamplona yesterday. Both locals and visitors paid homage to the saint on his saint's day and they showed that there is a lot more to the Sanfermin fiestas than the running of the bulls and the partying.

The event went off as expected; streets and balconies crowded with people, "Jota" songs sung to the image of the saint and lots of chants of Viva San Fermin! The councilors paraded in all their gala and they received their usual mixture of acclaim and abuse from the public, depending on their political leanings. The most intense and emotional moment took place in the Plaza del Consejo Square when the Santiago Chorus Group sang a Jota to San Fermin.