Fri 5 Sep 2008
 Saturday, September 6th, 10am till 6pm at 600 Main Street in Edmonds
For seven centuries in the Spanish town of Pamplona, the Festival of San Fermin has been celebrated by an annual running of the bulls.
Today, with balls rather than bulls, the tradition comes to Edmonds in the northwest corner of the United States of America .
The festival honors a 3rd century Roman guy named Fermin, the son of a senator, who converted to Christianity. For lack of a better saint, we’ll honor Fermin too.
In Pamplona , the running of the bulls is 800 yards and 3 minutes of exciting mayhem. Hemmingway wrote about the ritual in his novel “The Sun Also Rises” in 1926. Since then about 14 people have been killed and over 200 injured. You gotta be crazy to be doing this.
Before running, the young people of Pamplona always say, “We ask St. Fermin, as our patron, to guide us through the Bull Run and give us his blessing.” Today our young people too call on St. Fermin to be with them as they run with the balls.
As in Pamplona , the running of the balls is open to all…amateur nut cases and daredevils from around the planet. Today we have an inspirational assortment of courageous young people, who for the financial well-being of their local SnoKing Youth Club, risk almost nothing to help out.
As Edmonds has absolutely no experience in this tradition, I hereby bring you–from Pamplona –some bull running rules and tips.
- Injuries are common. Being trampled or even gored by a wild ball is no fun.
- Hooves grip the cobbles poorly…if Edmonds had cobbles it would be even worse.
- If you do fall, don’t stand up. Stay down with hands over your head till the balls pass.
- You must treat the balls with respect.
- There will be absolutely no pulling the tail of a ball…those who do are disqualified.
The runners of Pamplona have learned over the centuries that as long as bulls stay in the herd they continue to run. If separated from the herd they just stop. As this is our first year with balls rather than bulls, we don’t know how the lonely ball will run.
Viewers normally stand behind a wooden barricade. There are none today…so it’s particularly dangerous. Don’t lean out.
When balls approach, it’s traditional to yell Ahi Va ! (There it goes). In English we can yell “Balls! The balls are coming!”
And now Edmonds celebrates with the first annual Running of the Balls.
We thank you for your support and that’s absolutely no bull.
Now…may the best ball win. Let’s go.
Hi there! I would like to have a video demonstrating the “Running of the Balls” and have been unable to find one. I have several Rotary Clubs in Missouri that would like to do this unique fundraising activity. Would you please supply me with your video?
Thank you
John Gill District Governor Kansas City MO