MADRID, July 6 (Reuters) - The northern Spanish city of Pamplona on Thursday marked the start of its iconic nine-day Running of the Bulls festival with the ceremonial launching of a firework known as the "chupinazo".
After the highly awaited bang, the crowds cheered "Long live St Fermin!
", in reference to Pamplona's patron saint, as bands playing the traditional txistu flute and drums led them off the square in a jovial march.
This year marks the 100th anniversary of American author Ernest Hemingway's first visit to the festival, which he made internationally famous in his 1926 novel "The Sun Also Rises".
Reporting by David Latona; Editing by Andrei Khalip and Devika SyamnathOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons:
St Fermin, Ernest Hemingway's, David Latona, Andrei Khalip
Organizations:
Bulls, Thomson
Locations:
MADRID, Spanish, Pamplona