The descendants of Spanish immigrants in the eastern province of El Seibo are continuing the bull running tradition. The El Seibo bull run today is also possible because nearby Central Romana lends their bulls to keep alive the tradition. The bull run is part of the patronal feasts for the province in May. The bulls are unharmed.
El Seibo historian and journalist Florentino Duran has been following the bull runs for years. He reports that during the first 10 days of May there will be six bull runs from 4 to 6pm as a warmup for the evening activities. The runs take place in the area known as Las Quinientas.
The runs are organized by the Hermandad de Fervorosos de la Santísima Cruz to honor the Virgen de la Santa Cruz, the patron saint of the city of El Seibo. It maintains the tradition of Spanish settlers originally from the Canary Islands (Santa Cruz de Tenerife) that has been going on for over 100 years. The Dominican government has declared the bull run as part of the cultural heritage of the Dominican Republic.
On the afternoons in early May, the practice is for the bull runners to match five or six bulls that are let go. These are the same bulls that work in the cane fields. The bull runners are naturals. They receive little if any training to run with the bulls and are paid RD$800-RD$2,000 to put on a show for the many bystanders. There is much spontaneity in the event. Some youths even jump into the ring to give the bulls a run of their own.
The bulls are not physically harmed, albeit they are subject to an intense 15 minutes of stressful running until they are returned to the stable by their professional caretakers.
El Seibo is about 130 km from Santo Domingo, 50 km from La Romana and 87km from Punta Cana, making for an easy half-day outing.
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16 Minutos
Listin Diario
Diario Libre
Alfredo Esteban
16 Apri 2019