Pamplona (EFE) tied their neck scarves ready to enjoy nine uninterrupted days of partying.
Two feelings deeply rooted among the people of Pamplona, those that define the Osasunistas and the San Fermineros, have come together at this start of the festivities in which the eyes from the point of the morning have turned to the sky before the alert for rains and storms , who have respected the traditional previous lunches and the launching of the chupinazo.
In recognition of the historic season that the Navarrese team has carried out, the president of Osasuna, Luis Sabalza, has been in charge of igniting the wick of the Sanfermines announcing chupinazo, giving way to nine days of festivities in Pamplona, where they have scheduled 542 official acts.
The typical formula of “pamplonesas, pamploneses, long live San Fermín!”, in Spanish and Basque, followed by “we won’t give up, hooray for Osasuna!”, has been chosen by Sabalza to kick off the festivities from the balcony of the Town Hall, where he was accompanied by the team’s coach, Jagoba Arrasate, as well as the captains David García and Unai García, as well as the mayoress of Pamplona, Cristina Ibarrola.
Osasuna as protagonist
Osasuna has had a historic season, reaching the final of the Copa del Rey, which they lost to Real Madrid in Seville and finishing seventh in the League. For the first time in its more than one hundred years of history, they qualified for the Spanish Super Cup and the Conference League, although their presence in this European competition is pending resources after UEFA decided to exclude the team.
The latter has been present with banners critical of UEFA and shouts of support for the Navarrese team such as “Osasuna never gives up”, which have been interspersed with typical San Fermin songs.
After the start of the festivities, which has been followed on giant screens in key points of the capital, music becomes the protagonist with the traditional “Biribilketa” by Gaínza as the first piece, which this year has returned to the hall of the City Hall, but with sound systems for both the txistularis and the La Pamplonesa band, so that the first notes of the festivities can be heard throughout the square.
From there the music will be distributed throughout the city throughout the day and night with performances such as those of Ana Torroja, Puro Relajo or Los 40 Dance.
Waiting for the first running of the bulls that will take place on July 7, the day of San Fermín, the arena of Pamplona will host a bullfight this afternoon with Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza, Roberto Armendáriz and Guillermo Hermoso de Mendoza.