The San Fermin Fiesta, though an age-old tradition, is one that stands in the way of allowing it’s bulls a peaceful existence; and sometimes, an existence itself.Β 

Protest Mashable

(Image Courtesy: Mashable)

As a festival glorified by text, history, literature, film, music, and much more – one would only assume it’s subtle innocence – however, owing to the recent protests by the PETA & AnimaNaturalis activists on site, the gory underbelly of the festival is starting to reveal itself to the world.

Campaigners have been visiting the festival for years now, but it was only this year that their activism gained any traction – this year, PETA activists came together at the main square of the festival, dressed in the traditional attire of the fiesta, except – their faces were painted akin to the Grim Reaper, red paint adorned their bodies and clothes, providing an almost blood-like effect – while their hands held slogans in numerous languages and typefaces; all reading the words “You Run, Bulls Die.”

(Images Courtesy: The Daily Mail)

Even though the idea of the festival is inviting, as a tourist, or even as a resident of the area – the sad truth is that the bulls that are made to run during the festival days are maimed, killed, and even if they are merely injured, they’re left to die on the streets – which is why protesters painted in red, and geared with faux-bull horns on their head, laid on the streets days before the festival began to express their concerns for the innocent creatures that lose their lives on the streets of Pamplona each year!

Protest Lying Down Mashable

(Image Courtesy: Mashable)

Like we said, this is not the first time PETA is protesting the festival, and Kirsty Henderson – PETA’s Campaign Coordinator (and as rightly put on her twitter profile – “Professional troublemaker for @PETAUK.”) said to The Independent –

β€œThe tide is really turning on bull fighting. It’s not a tradition that Spanish people want to protect any more,”

Here’s hoping that this festival realises the need for humanity in their practices – though tradition is something that has unrelenting power over it’s observers, it is something that stands in the way of progress if it takes no consideration for the peaceful coexistence and harmonic sustainability of everything and everyone involved.