PAMPLONA, Spain — The San Fermin festival in Pamplona commenced this week, drawing thousands of participants and spectators to the northern Spanish city for the annual running of the bulls. This year’s celebration coincides with the centenary of Ernest Hemingway’s novel "The Sun Also Rises," which played a significant role in popularizing the event internationally.

The festivities began Monday with a fireworks display over the packed main square, followed by the first of eight bull runs on Tuesday. The festival spans nine days and features locals and visitors sprinting ahead of bulls through narrow cobblestone streets toward the city’s bullring. The event, while deeply rooted in Spanish tradition, continues to attract large numbers of foreign tourists, particularly from the United States.

Bill Hillmann, a Chicago native and veteran bull runner who has sustained multiple goring injuries over the years, described his enduring connection to the festival and Hemingway’s work. He said the novel’s vivid depiction of the event first captivated him at age 19, inspiring his dual passions as a writer and bull runner. Since then, Hillmann has run with the bulls hundreds of times across Spain and now teaches "The Sun Also Rises" while chronicling the bull-running culture.

According to data from Pamplona’s City Hall, Americans represent the largest group of foreign participants, accounting for 16% of bull runners in 2022, quadruple the proportion from neighboring France. Tour operators like Bruce Anderson, who leads trips for thousands of Americans each year, credit Hemingway’s influence for the festival’s enduring appeal. Anderson noted heightened enthusiasm surrounding the centennial and pointed to Hemingway’s lasting presence in the city’s cafés and landmarks.

Hemingway’s ties to Pamplona are evident throughout the city. His suite in the historic Perla Hotel preserves furnishings from his stays in the 1950s and displays numerous editions of his novel. Nearby, statues and banners celebrate his literary contribution, with a well-known quote reflecting his awe at the festival’s energy. Fernando Hualde, a longtime hotel receptionist, acknowledged that Hemingway helped place Pamplona on the global map.

Nevertheless, the writer’s legacy in Pamplona faces complexities. Critics highlight Hemingway’s emphasis on bullfighting over the running itself and express concerns regarding his portrayal of masculinity and themes such as hunting and war. Animal rights activists have protested the festival’s association with bullfighting, citing ethical objections to the treatment of animals. Some residents also voice apprehension about overtourism and its social impacts on the relatively small city of 200,000, which swells to over a million during San Fermin.

Local academics observe that while Hemingway’s name remains synonymous with the festival, many visitors lack familiarity with the novel’s broader narrative. Gabriel Insausti, a literature professor, remarked that Hemingway’s cultural image has become commercialized, sometimes at the expense of the book itself.

Safety remains a critical concern amid the influx of inexperienced runners. Hillmann noted that although the last fatality occurred in 2009, serious injuries from bull gorings are frequent. He recounted a severe goring he suffered in 2014 resulting from a fellow runner’s misstep but emphasized his commitment to participating despite the risks, describing the run as an art form requiring skill and attention.

Mariel Hemingway, the actor and granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, recalled her own warm reception at the festival and expressed confidence that her grandfather’s work would continue to resonate. The novel’s exploration of themes such as risk and mortality persists, mirroring the continuing allure of the San Fermin festival itself.