The Running of the Nudes, like the well-known
Running of the Bulls
A running of the bulls ( es, encierro, from the verb ''encerrar'', 'to corral, to enclose'; oc, abrivado, literally 'haste, momentum'; ca, correbous, 'run-bulls') is an event that involves running in front of a small group of bulls, typicall ...
, takes place in
Pamplona
Pamplona (; eu, Iruña or ), historically also known as Pampeluna in English, is the capital city of the Chartered Community of Navarre, in Spain. It is also the third-largest city in the greater Basque cultural region.
Lying at near above ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
. The Running of the Nudes occurs two days before the Running of the Bulls, just before the start of the nine-day
festival of San Fermín
The festival of San Fermín is a weeklong, historically rooted celebration held annually in the city of Pamplona, Navarre, in northern Spain.
The celebrations start at noon on July 6 and continue until midnight on July 14. A firework starts o ...
. The event was created in 2002 and is supported by animal welfare groups, including
PETA, who object to the Running of the Bulls, claiming that the event is cruel and glorifies
bullfighting, which the groups oppose. In the Running of the Nudes, naked humans, many wearing only plastic horns and red scarves, follow the same route taken by the Running of the Bulls, from the Santo Domingo corrals through the town’s streets, ending at the Plaza de Toros. The length of the run is some 800 metres (about half a mile) and the event takes about one hour.
History
In 2002, approximately 25 naked
streakers ran through Pamplona's winding streets to promote an alternative to the Running of the Bulls. Subsequent events saw a steady increase in the numbers of runners with an estimated 1000 nude or semi-nude runners taking part in the event in 2006.
Animal welfare groups across Europe and in North America have promoted the event, coordinating low-cost transportation and accommodations for the runners. The event has become an annual alternative festival to the Running of the Bulls. Local citizens, initially offended by the public display of nudity, have become more accepting due to changing morals and because the new event has extended the traditional festival and added to its important economic impact for the town. Organizers work with local government to obtain permits and provide insurance, as required by local law.
The event was called off in 2020-21. It resumed where it left off in 2022.
References
{{People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Clothing-free events
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals
Recurring sporting events established in 2002
2002 establishments in Spain
Events in Navarre
July events
Sport in Pamplona