Saint Fermin

According to the ancient tradition of Pamplona, Fermin was the son of a Roman official of the city in the third century. He and his family were converted by Saint Honestus, a disciple of Saint Saturninus of Toulouse. Fermin was ordained a priest and later a bishop at Toulouse and returned to Pamplona as its first bishop.

Zealous to spread the Gospel, he went on to preach in Gaul, where many were converted. Tradition says he was arrested in Amiens and beheaded for the faith around the year 303. Amiens venerates him as its first bishop, and the Roman Martyrology remembers him on September 25. In the late twelfth century relics of the saint were brought to Pamplona, and in 1591 the city moved his celebration to July 7, joining it to its summer fair. He is co-patron of Navarre with Saint Francis Xavier.

The Sanfermines run from July 6 to 14. The fiesta opens with the "chupinazo" rocket at noon on July 6, and on July 7 the saint's statue is carried through Pamplona in a solemn procession. Each morning, before the bull run, runners sing a prayer to San Fermín before his image, asking him to guide them; the fiesta closes with the candlelit song "Pobre de mí."