It is the rocket announcing the beginning of the festival, this is just over half a century. During centuries, the beginning of the festival of San Fermin took place when the municipal authorities, accompanied by mace - bearers, giants, musicians and general public use to go to San Lorenzo´s Church to do the Vespers in honour of San Fermin. In 1901 some people start lighting rockets in the Plaza del Castillo. In 1940 the Deputy Mayor Joaquin Ilundáin and jthe ournalist José María Pérez Salazar suggested to the Mayor to officially pull the Chupinazo rom the balcony of the consistory. And a year later the mayor lit the wick.
The Chupinazo will be shot by an appointed personality that the Major has previously decided (is usually a member of the Municipal Corporation). This takes place on July 6 at 12 noon from the central balcony of the second floor of City Hall. During the previous hours both locals and foreigners, dressed in traditional clothing (trousers and white shirt and red sash) wait for this huge moment. They are bathered with torrents of cheap champagne flowing onto them. Once the rocket is off, they knot their red scarf onthe neck and they should wear it during the whole festival.
The rocket´s shot followed by the shouts of Viva San Fermin! and "Gora San Fermin!" converts the old part in a human tide submerged in a mixture of songs, dances, music and shouts of joy indicating that the party has begun. The best place to experience this are on the balconies surrounding the Town Hall Plaza as to get inside the crowd you must be willing to endure for more than an hour all sorts of pushing, shouting and flourover you. Another possibility, not that exciting, is to watch it live on TV.
Chupinazo 2011
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