BULLS RETURN TO THE CENTRE OF TOWN
Tuesday 10th January 2012

It may not be to everyone's taste but the tradition of "running with the bulls" makes a return to the centre of the old town after a 20-year absence, forming part of the revamped San Sebastián celebrations, honouring the patron saint of Jávea / Xŕbia, which are to be held from Friday 20th January through to Sunday 22nd January. Those brave enough to face the horns can enter a special bull-ring that will cover the square in front of the Ayuntamiento building as well as the Plaça de Baix, the smaller square to be found through the tosca archway and down the set of steps.

The Associació Cultural Taurina de Xŕbia (ACTX) has promoted the return of bull-running in the middle of the Historic Centre and they will be responsible for the organisation of the event as well as covering all expenses, thus removing any financial burden on the cash-strapped local authority. Juan Ortolá, the councillor responsible for Fiestas, has said that the town hall has processed the necessary permits as well as insurance and agreed on all the proposals for the event but this 'new' festival will not cost "a single euro" to the municipality. Indeed, it is hoped that the celebrations will provide a much needed out-of-season boost to the old town traders and hostelries throughout the weekend, especially during the period when bull-running events are few and far between in the region. It is hoped that the event will pull in aficionados of the bulls from all over the area.

José Juan Ribes, the president of the ACTX, revealed that his association had been working of bringing bull-running back to the centre of town for some four years and during that time they had managed to raise enough money to make it possible. Initially, the event will cover only the two squares of Plaça de l'Esglčsia and Plaça de Baix, connected by the two sets of steps, so as not to burden shops and local businesses with an additional cost of buying suitable protection for their windows. Should the 2012 revival prove to be a success then it is envisaged that future events will run down towards Calle Primicies and the small square of the municipal museum.

The event will begin on Friday 20th January at 5.30pm and 10.00pm with three more runs on Saturday 21st January at 12.30pm, 5.30pm and 10.00pm. Everything will come to a close on Sunday 22nd January with two final runs at 12.30pm and 5.30pm.

The running with the bulls event forms part of the traditional celebrations in honour of San Sebastián, the patron saint of Jávea, which start this Sunday 15th January at 10.00am with the bicycle race 'Vuelta Ciclista a la Marina' and then on Friday 20th January, the day of San Sebastián, with bell-ringing, a modest parade through the town in which the organising committee, accompanied by the sound of dulzaina, will hand out traditional cake and mistela wine, and then visits to the two chapels of San Sebastián as well as a solemn mass. In addition, there will be a special children's magic show on Saturday 21st January at 11.00am in the Casa del Cultura after which the ACTX have organised the increasingly popular children's bull-running in which very fit assistants will 'chase' excited youngsters with 'carretones' (small wheeled trollies with horns) which allow the younger members of the community to enjoy something of the spectable of bull-running without the obvious risk.

Source: Press Release - Xŕbia Ajuntament