Look at those poor animals being caged by a bullying bull. A true Encierro in action.
It happens every year in Spain but no one cries out in displeasure. As the warm summer breeze of July sweeps through the towns the anticipated fear swells. The clock blinks eight and their shoes get laced. "Will today be the day?..." they ponder. The bold people of Pamplona step cautiously out of doors only to be greeted by the rampaging bulls that overrun their city once a year.
Although this occurs through various bits of Europe the most noteworthy crime is committed in Pamplona, Spain. The terrified Pamplonians refer to it as El Encierro, or, "the enclosing". This comes from the homogeneous feeling of being trapped in a city under the rule of the bulls. Remember the raptors in Jurassic Park? Imagine living alongside the fear of a creature every bit as clever but add horns and paint it black.
A watchmen fires a rocket to alert townsfolk that they are nearing but by that point it is already too late. During the night prior to the annual catastrophe the bulls erect wooden and iron barricades to funnel their helpless pray to desired areas. They intelligently manufacture the prison-esque cages in a way that allows a few animals to slip through the bars. This is purely for the bull’s enjoyment. They isolate a course of 830 meters where the townspeople huddle for protection and desperately try not to single themselves out as easy prey. A select group of individuals, however, dress themselves in the traditional attire for the flight. It is here where the outrageously common misconception takes place. The people seen running from the bulls are not enjoying themselves or the experience, they are attempting to escape. These courageous souls risk everything for a chance that they might break the bond the bulls hold on their home in order to share their horrific tale with the outside world.
Ignorant outsiders believe this is that this is some sort of event or spectacle. Who in their right minds would enjoy their life flashing before their eyes as they recklessly jog a few paces in front of a monstrous creature? Probably the same person who enjoys slip’n’sliding down escalators. The only thing spectacular about it is that it hasn’t been acknowledged for what it truly is – a chronic animal abuse act. My heart goes out to those brave citizens while I hope one day you will be able to defeat the bulls that curse your hometown with terror.
We need to stop these monsters now!! This will definitely make me a meat eater! I shall eat my way to a safer society, one rid of these giant menacing animals!
Don't kid yourself Jimmy. If a bull ever got the chance, he'd eat you and everyone you care about!
No, it comes from «encerrar» (enclose) the bulls at the bullring for the bullfight with will take place after.
It happens in thousands of places over all the Spainish country, but you only know about Pamplona from the books of Hemingway.
However the «encierro» is not dangerous for the bulls but for the people, usually some americans/australians die because they want to run the «encierro» being drunk and falling asleep, but the risk is great and pumps the adrenaline so for them is worth to take it...
Besides the picture is not from the «encierros» that take place in Pamplona.
Lighten up, mate, eh?