¡Viva San Fermín! The famous yet controversial Spanish running of the bulls festival kicks off on July 6, but it’s not just about bull-taming bravado.

On the San Fermin festival website, it reads: “Often they would run ahead of the bulls to entice them forward. "With the passing of time, the event became popular with the general public and the ...

The Running of the Bulls during the festival of San Fermín has started in Pamplona in Spain but what is the annual tradition all about, is it safe and why is it controversial?

Revelers celebrate while waiting for the launch of the ‘Chupinazo’ rocket, to mark the official opening of the 2022 San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Wednesday, July 6, 2022.

People crowded outside of the Town Hall of Pamplona, Spain for the beginning of the San Fermin bull festival on July 6, 2023. Photo by ANDER GILLENEA/AFP via Getty Images.

A young cow jumps over participants after the “encierro” (bull-run) of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona, northern Spain, on July 7, 2023.

On the whole, San Fermines is extremely well organised and most of the bull runs in recent years have been clean. There are also always medical services on hand to treat anyone with cuts, bruises ...

Revelers fill the town hall square waiting for the launch of the ‘Chupinazo’ rocket, to mark the official opening of the 2022 San Fermin fiestas in Pamplona, Spain, Wednesday, July 6, 2022.