Bullfighting
is certainly one of the best known, although at the same time most polemical
Spanish popular customs. This Fiesta could not exist without the Toro
Bravo, a species of bull of an archaical race that is only conserved in
Spain. Formerly this bull's forebears, the primitive urus, were spread
out over wide parts of the world. Many civilizations revered to them,
the bull-cultus at the Greek island Creta is quite well-known. The Bible
reports on sacrifices of bulls in honour to the divine justice.
Also in the religious ceremonies of Iberian tribes living in Spain in
prehistorical times bulls played an important part. The origins of the
Plaza, bullring, probably are not the Roman amphitheaters but the Celt-Iberian
temples where those ceremonies were held. In the province of Soria, close
to Numancia, one of them is conserved and it is supposed that there bulls
were sacrificed to the Gods.
Also
in the religious ceremonies of Iberian tribes living in Spain in prehistorical
times bulls played an important part. The origins of the Plaza, bullring,
probably are not the Roman amphitheaters but the Celt-Iberian temples
where those ceremonies were held.
While the religious cultus to the bull goes back to
Iberians, it were the Greek and Roman influences that converted it into
a spectacle. During the middle-ages it was a diversion for the aristocracy
to torear on horse's back. That was called suerte de cañas. In 18th century
this tradition was more or less abandoned and the poorer population invented
the bullfight by foot. Francisco Romero was a key-figure in laying the
rules for that new sport.
What
a Corrida is about
If you are not
familiar to Corridas, you will find here listed chronologically
everything that happens. So you may decide by yourself if you want
to see one when you are visiting Spain. A Corrida starts with the
paseillo, with everybody involved in the bullfight entering the
ring and presenting themselves to the public.
Two Alguacilillos, on horse's
back, direct themselves to the presidency and symbolically ask for the
keys to the "puerta de los toriles". Behind that door there are the bulls.With the door being opened and
the first bull entering the ring the spectacle starts. It consists of
three parts, called tercios, being separated by horn-signals. There are
three toreros in each Corrida, by the way, and each will have to torear
two bulls. In the first tercio the bullfighter uses the capote, a quite
large rag of purple and yellow color. Now enter two picadores, on horse's
back and armed with a sort of lance. The second part is la suerte de banderillas.
Three banderilleros have to stick a pair of banderillas into the attacking
bull's back. In the final "suerte suprema" the bullfighter uses the muleta,
a small red rag. He has to show his faena, his masterity to dominate the
bull, and to establish an artistical symbiosis between man and beast.
The Corrida ends with the torero killing the bull by his sword.
PAMPLONA:
The festival of San Fermin is by far the best known event taking place in Pamplona. TV-spectators in all the world are surprised, when they watch the spectacle of bulls running. Read more.
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