Festival officials fired off the Txupinazo, or chupinazo, rocket Sunday in Pamplona, Spain to mark the beginning of the annual San Fermin festival, when more than a million people descend on the Spanish town to party and take part in the famous Running of the Bulls events -- a festival made famous by Ernest Hemingway in "The Sun Also Rises."
In the next nine days, copious amounts of wine and champagne will be shared by revelers while others try their luck running the crowded streets ahead of a pack of bulls. Today the bulls rest as hundreds of thousands kick off San Fermin.
People cheer after hearing the midday Chupinazo rocket announcing the start of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 6, 2014. Tens of thousands of expectant party goers holding red scarves squeezed into the town hall to kick off 204 hours of music, dancing, drinking, bullfighting and for the brave or unwary, an 825 metre (902 yard) daily sprint in front of six fighting bulls known as the Running Of The Bulls. REUTERS/StringerPeople cheer after hearing the midday "Chupinazo" rocket announcing the start of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 6, 2014. Tens of thousands of expectant party goers holding red scarves squeeze into the town hall to kick off 204 hours of music, dancing, drinking, bullfighting and for the brave or unwary, an 825 metre (902 yard) daily sprint in front of six fighting bulls known as the Running Of The Bulls. REUTERS/Vincent WestA girl has wine poured over her before the midday "Chupinazo" rocket announcing the start of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 6, 2014. Tens of thousands of expectant party goers holding red scarves squeeze into the town hall to kick off 204 hours of music, dancing, drinking, bullfighting and for the brave or unwary, an 825 metre (902 yard) daily sprint in front of six fighting bulls known as the Running Of The Bulls. REUTERS/Joseba EtxaburuA girl has wine poured over her before the midday "Chupinazo" rocket announcing the start of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 6, 2014. Tens of thousands of expectant party goers holding red scarves squeeze into the town hall to kick off 204 hours of music, dancing, drinking, bullfighting and for the brave or unwary, an 825 metre (902 yard) daily sprint in front of six fighting bulls known as the Running Of The Bulls. REUTERS/Joseba EtxaburuA man wearing a bra cheers before the midday "Chupinazo" rocket announcing the start of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 6, 2014. Tens of thousands of expectant party goers holding red scarves squeeze into the town hall to kick off 204 hours of music, dancing, drinking, bullfighting and for the brave or unwary, an 825 metre (902 yard) daily sprint in front of six fighting bulls known as the Running Of The Bulls. REUTERS/Eloy AlonsoA man is tossed in the air by his friends before the midday "Chupinazo" rocket announcing the start of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 6, 2014. Tens of thousands of expectant party goers holding red scarves squeeze into the town hall to kick off 204 hours of music, dancing, drinking, bullfighting and for the brave or unwary, an 825-metre (902-yard) daily sprint in front of six fighting bulls known as the Running Of The Bulls. REUTERS/Eloy AlonsoA reveller is soaked with water following the midday "Chupinazo" rocket announcing the start of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 6, 2014. Tens of thousands of expectant party goers holding red scarves squeeze into the town hall to kick off 204 hours of music, dancing, drinking, bullfighting and for the brave or unwary, an 825-metre (902-yard) daily sprint in front of six fighting bulls known as the Running Of The Bulls. REUTERS/Eloy AlonsoA man is raised up by his friends before the midday "Chupinazo" rocket announcing the start of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 6, 2014. Tens of thousands of expectant party goers holding red scarves squeeze into the town hall to kick off 204 hours of music, dancing, drinking, bullfighting and for the brave or unwary, an 825 metre (902 yard) daily sprint in front of six fighting bulls known as the Running Of The Bulls. REUTERS/Eloy AlonsoRevellers are soaked with water following the midday "Chupinazo" rocket announcing the start of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 6, 2014. Tens of thousands of expectant party goers holding red scarves squeeze into the town hall to kick off 204 hours of music, dancing, drinking, bullfighting and for the brave or unwary, an 825 metre (902 yard) daily sprint in front of six fighting bulls known as the Running Of The Bulls.REUTERS/Eloy AlonsoPeople await the midday "Chupinazo" rocket announcing the start of the San Fermin festival in Pamplona July 6, 2014. Tens of thousands of expectant party goers holding red scarves squeezed into the town hall to kick off 204 hours of music, dancing, drinking, bullfighting and for the brave or unwary, an 825 metre (902 yard) daily sprint in front of six fighting bulls known as the Running Of The Bulls. REUTERS/Vincent West
