Festival of San Fermin 2010 in Pictures

The festival of San Fermín (or Sanfermines) is a deeply rooted celebration held annually in the city of Navarre, Spain. The celebration starts from 12:00, 6 July, when the opening of the fiesta is marked by setting off the pyrotechnic chupinazo, to midnight 14 July, with the singing of the Pobre de Mí. While its most famous event is the encierro, or the running of the bulls, the biggest day is 7 July, when thousands of people accompany a replica of the statue of Saint Fermin along the streets in the old part of city.

San Fermin is accompanied by dancers and street entertainers. The week-long celebration involves many other traditional and folkloric events. It is known locally as Sanfermines and is held in honor of Saint Fermin, the co-patron of Navarre. Its events were central to the plot of The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway, which brought it to the general attention of English-speaking people. It has become probably the most internationally renowned fiesta in Spain. Over 1,000,000 people come to watch this festival.

View pictures from day 2 here, the day of bull running, and some additional pictures from day 1.

Photos: AP / GETTY / AFP / EPA / REUTERS