San Fermín 1978

34 years ago, on July 8^th  during the political transition, there were serious riots in Pamplona and unfortunately with the death, at the hands of the police, of the local citizen Germán Rodríguez. The events occurred in the bullring after the running of the bulls. It is tradition that the peñas (popular local associations) go down into the ring so they will begin their particular tour around the city. Well, a group of people-in this context-unfurled a banner asking for "Amnesty". 

Within the audience that hadn’t left the bullring arena were discrepancies: some he condemned it and others reinforce them by shouting: “Amnesty!”. In that precise moment, armed police entered the alley towards de bullring arena and start shouting with live ammunition. All those in the Bullfight Ring panicked, and obviously this panic spread to the streets ... San Fermin Festival was suspended. They celebrated bullfights and running of the bulls in September when San Fermin Chiquito takes place (San Fermin Chiquito is a kind of small version of San Fermin).

The images and pictures taken in the bullring while this horrible situation was taken place were banned and the files disappeared. But few years ago some of them were recovered by a french photographer.

San Fermín an the Civil warm

In 1937, during the Civil War, there were only ecclesiastical celebrations. There was no secular celebration. But in 1938, unlike the previous year on July 7 there was a religious procession.

Plaza del Castillo. 1938

So in an extraordinary council meeting in Pamplona City Council on June 30^th  they agreed to make 2 different religious processions one San Fermin Festivity eve and another one on July 7^th , the date celebrating the Saint of the City, following the traditional route holding numerous events with the solemnity and traditionally of San Fermin Festival events.

In those days the military uniforms predominated among the typical San Fermin Festival clothing in red an white.