The Bloody Tradition of Spanish Bullfighting
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The annual Running of the Bulls this past Saturday resulted in two injuries. One man was gored while another was dragged by a bull. The injuries were not serious, which is more than one can say for the bulls who are destined to meet their death in a ring.
Bullfighting is not a sport, according to to followers, who prefer to call it a “fine art.” The bulls are led down the streets of Pamplona to the bullfighting ring, where they will meet the toreros (matador) and his six assistants: two picadores (“lancers on horseback”) mounted on horseback, three banderilleros – who along with the matadors are collectively known as toreros (“bullfighters”) – and a mozo de espadas (“sword page”). Collectively they comprise a cuadrilla (“entourage”). Six men against one bull.
Spanish bullfighting is performed in stages. The first stage begins with the cuadrilla entering the ring in a parade. They salute the presiding dignitary (mayor, governor, etc.), accompanied by band music. The bull is brought in to be tested for its ferocity. This portion of stage one is called the tercio de varas (the lancing third), and the matador confronts the bull with a multi-colored cape, observing the behavior and quirks of the bull. A picador approaches the bull on horseback. Up until 1930, the horses used for bullfighting were not given any sort of body protection, and the bull would typically gore the horse during this portion of the event. Horses now are surrounded by a thick, padded covering called peto.
The picador stabs the bull behind a mound of muscle on its neck, bringing first blood. This first stab also weakens the neck muscles, causing the bull’s head to drop, making it easier for the matador to eventually deliver the killing blow. Encountering the picador also changes the bull’s behavior: a bull that was distracted or not engaged is now focused on a specific target.
The second stage, or tercio de banderillas (“the third of banderillas”), involves the three banderillos. They will each attempt to plant two banderillas, sharp barbed sticks, into the bull’s shoulders. These sticks serve two purposes-to further enrage the bull and at the same time, weaken it even more severely. During some bullfights, the matador places the banderillas himself with much flourish.
And now, the final stage, the third of death or tercio de muerte. The matador reenters the ring alone, armed with a red cape and a sword. The bull is bleeding, stumbling, confused and in pain. Bulls are color blind, so the cape is thought to be used to mask the bull’s blood and for show. The matador used his cape to attract the bull, usually drawing the bull close to his own body. These passes show the crowd the matador’s skill and weaken the bull further. The matador coerces the bull into a final pass, and stabs it between the shoulder blades and through the aorta or heart. If the crowd believes the matador has performed especially well, they wave white handkerchiefs in the air, and the matador may be rewarded with one of the bull’s ears. Rarely, if the crowd feels the bull performed with great bravery, they may petition to have the bull pardoned. Again, rarely, the bull is then allowed to live and put out to stud.
The French also have a form of bullfighting, that is a bloodless sport, at least for the bulls. Rosettes are attached to bulls’ horns, and as they run around a portable “arena,” men try to grab the rosettes using a small hook. The stars of French “course libre” are the bulls, who gain fame, notoriety and even lucrative product endorsements. The bulls are not stabbed or bloodied or killed. They’re famous.
Given a choice, which would you rather see? A Spanish bullfight, watching a living creature tortured before your eyes, or the French version, where a young bull gallops around, uninjured, and winds up famous, a spokes-bull for gum or beer or a soft drink? Vive la France.
Thanks to Wikipedia for information on Spanish and French bullfighting and CNN for the injury details during the running of the bulls this past Saturday.
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Bullfighting is the only art in which the artist is in danger of death and in which the degree of brilliance in the performance is left to the fighter’s honor. – Ernest Hemingway.
My parents used to watch bullfighting on TV when I was a kid. I ALWAYS thought it was cruel and ugly, despite the fact that my parents said it was skillful and blah blah blah. I’ve never heard of the French version; that might in fact be at least acceptable. I just can’t see how ANYONE could enjoy watching the torture of an animal And the more that I hear about it, the more I am convinced that it truly is torture! The bull never has any say in it, either. It’s no kind of contest; it’s just a way of torturing and killing a bull!
Marsha-exactly. This is not “fine art.” This is legalized animal torture.
I didn’t know that Erin. Amazing what I learn over here 🙂
Cruel and disgusting blood sport that is a reflection of a crippled society.
And it all started-wait for it-as a tribute to a saint.