Bullfighting
Bull fighting is very closely associated with Spain and can trace its
origins back to 711 A.D. This is when the first bullfight took place in
celebration for the crowning of King Alfonso VIII. It is very popular in
Spain with several thousand Spaniards flocking to their local
bull-ring each week. It is said that the total number of people
watching bullfights in Spain reaches one million every year.
Bullfighting was originally a sport for the aristocracy and took place
on horseback. King Felipe V took exception to the sport however
and banned the aristocracy from taking part, believing it to be a bad
example to the public. After the ban commoners accepted the sport
as their own and, since they could not afford horses, developed the
practice of dodging the bulls on foot, unarmed. This transformation
occurred around 1724.
What happens during a bullfight?
First, they let the bull into the ring. Then, the matador's assistant
waves a bright yellow and pink cape in front of the bull to make it
charge, allowing the matador to study the bull's qualities before
taking over himself.
After a short while a trumpet sounds and the Picadores pierce the
bull with banderillas (spears) to
weaken it. As this task is completed
another trumpet sounds and the
Matador removes his black winged
hat and dedicates the death of the
bull to the president or the crowd
before beginning his faena.
The faena is the most beautiful and skillful section of the fight. This
is where the matador proves his courage and artistry. The faena
consists of the Matador coming at the bull carrying a muleta. This is
a piece of thick crimson cloth draped over a short stick, which can
be held in either the left hand or draped over la espada, the killing
sword, which is always held in the right hand. Usually the muleta, is
first held in front of the matador to make the bull charge and is then
swung across and away from the matador's body hopefully taking
the bull with it.
This is a basically a dance with death -
one wrong move and the Matador could
become impaled on the horns of the bull.
It is the Matador's job to make this dance
dramatic and enjoyable for the audience.
The faena continues until the Matador has demonstrated his
superiority over the bull. Once this is achieved the bull is ready to be
killed.
The matador stands a short distance from the bull, keeping the bull
fixated on the muleta and aims la espada between the shoulder
blades. The matador attacks pushing the espada over the horns and
deep between the shoulder blades. If the sword goes in to the hilt it
is an estocada but if it hits bone it is a pinchazo or media-estocada.
An estocada usually results in the bull dropping immediately to its
knees and dying, but if the bull fails to die the matador may take the
descabello (a sword with a short cross piece at the end) which he
stabs into the bull's neck severing the spinal cord. The fight is over.
The matador may be awarded trophies by the president, according
to his skill in working with the bull, which can be one or two ears
from the bull, the tail and the hoof. The crowd will often encourage
the president to award the trophies by waving white handkerchiefs,
and this waving continues after the trophies have been awarded in
an attempt to get the matador to throw his trophies into the crowd.
The crowd in return hurls flowers which are collected by the
matador's assistants.
| Bullfighting in Spain |
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| Bullfighting Video Links: |
| Bullfight commentary by bullfighter Jose Tomas (spanish) |
