Talk:San Fermín de los Navarros church in Madrid celebrates patron day

Journalist notes
I attended the San Fermín de los Navarros church in Madrid celebrates patron day earlier today. I attended the event with Raystorm and another person. The other person has ties to the Navarre region of Spain, and has a relationship with the church so she knows the history of the event and the context to explain it to me.

I was told of and advised to listen for the rocket being launched at noon prior to the start of the festival. I heard it go off.

The estimate of 200 is mine. Raystorm told me she thinks maybe 300. The pictures give an idea of how many people. The place was really packed.

There were some people who broke out into dance at this from the music (canned) being played. The church gave our plastic cups and many people drank out of them, but a few people got a hold of them and drank out of the bottles.

The plates of were cooked on site and given out. People were really generous sharing them, which was good because the concept of a line to get free food at this thing was non-existent. I was told the Chistorras were a speciality to the region the saint hailed from.

There was a stand to buy the red handkerchiefs (€2 for plain red, €6 with the shield), along with hats and flags. The church distributed sheets of paper so you could donate to fix the roof. They also had a basket they asked people to donate money too.

San Fermín marks the start of the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. I was told this by the other person. Raystorm verified this. The actual running of the bulls takes place tomorrow. The celebration is called "Chupinazo". It has the same name in Madrid as in Navarre though the local celebrations are somewhat different because it is not the saint's home town and no running of the bulls here to coincide with it.

You can see the red handkrchiefs and the people inside the courtyard and on the street outside in the pictures.

The bread and wine were free. Lots of people consuming both while they stood around and socialized or danced or just had a good time.--LauraHale (talk) 18:35, 6 July 2013 (UTC)