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Pagan Converts to Christianity: Fiesta de San Fermín festival, Pamplona, Spain

By Shidonna Raven, Chef Editor

By The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica

May 6, 2022

Source: Shidonna Raven Garden & Cook. All Rights Reserved. Copyright. Please contact us for republishing permission and citation formatting.

Photo Source: Unsplash, Giovanni Calia


Proceeding the death of Jesus many of the non-traditional and mythological pagan traditions begin to convert to Christianity motivated by social, political and economic status. Still holding to their old beliefs but converting nonetheless Christian converts of these faiths often martyred themselves or claimed stigmatas as a means of deifying themselves, a pagan and mythological practice and belief, to gain position or social status. San Fermin is one such person who was given the title of saint. His reported death and other activities are still widely practiced today in the festival of the running of the bulls or San Fermin festival. The means by which the the bull(s) are killed is likely a practice blended into the Christian faith from previous non-traditional pagan beliefs.

 

Fiesta de San Fermín, (Spanish: Festival of Saint Fermín) festival held annually in Pamplona, Spain, beginning at noon on July 6 and ending at midnight on July 14, honouring the city’s first bishop and patron saint, Saint Fermín.

The festival was originally observed on Saint Fermín’s feast day, September 25, but in 1592 the celebration was moved to July. Pamplona’s modern fiesta starts with fireworks called chupinazo at noon on July 6, followed by the singing of the traditional song “Pamploneses, Viva San Fermín, Gora San Fermín” (“People of Pamplona, Long Live Saint Fermín”). The best-known part of the festival is the running of the bulls, or the encierro. From July 7 to July 14 the bulls to be used in the daily bullfights are run through the streets of the town to the bullring. Both locals and tourists participate in the event, made famous in Ernest Hemingway’s 1926 novel The Sun Also Rises. The Procession of Saint Fermín, is a non-traditional pagan religious celebration, that takes place the morning of July 7. Other events associated with the fiesta include the comparsa, a parade featuring large puppets carried by the marchers, as well as numerous parties and spontaneous gatherings. The festival ends on July 14 with the singing of “Pobre de Mi” (“Old Poor Me”).

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