Bullfights+in+Spain

Controversy and Ban on Spanish Bullfights
Bullfights are a huge part of the culture of Spain. The first bullfight happened in 711 AD to celebrate the crowning of King Alfonso VIII. Several thousand Spaniards go to see a bullfight weekly, and yearly the number of people who flock to the bullrings is one million.



Bullfights are a huge part of the culture of Spain. The first bullfight happened in 711 AD to celebrate the crowning of King Alfonso VIII. Several thousand Spaniards go to see a bullfight weekly, and yearly the number of people who flock to the bullrings is one million.

Never been to a Spanish Bullfight? Here’s what happens step by step. First, the people involved with the bullfight step out into the arena to present themselves to the public. They leave and the bull is let into the ring. The chief assistant of the Matador, or the top bullfighter, waves a brightly colored cape in front of the bull to entice it to charge. The Matador can take over after he has examined the bull’s mood and qualities. The Picadores come out signaled by a trumpet, and they spear the bull to weaken it. The next part is called the faena. The matador carries a muleta, which is explained as a piece of crimson cloth draped over a sword or a short stick. When the matador swings the muleta, the bull charges and the matador tries to kill the bull with the weapon. The faena keeps going until the matador has felt that he has gained the superiority over the bull. Then the Matador strikes the bull between the shoulder blades with the espada. If he hits bone it is called a “Pinchazo” or “Media-estocada.” However, the sword goes all the way into the bull it is named an “estocada.” If the bull does not immediately drop dead, then the Matador takes a descabello, or a short sword, and stabs the bull in the neck to sever the spinal cord. The fight is finished when the bull is dead. The matador could receive parts of the bull as a trophy, such as an ear or a hoof or the tail. When the matador is presented his trophies, the crowd waves white flags in an attempt to get the bullfighter to throw the trophies to them. If he does, the crowd throws back flowers which are picked up by the bullfighters’ assistants.



Bullfighting is also extremely dangerous to the Matador. One wrong move and he could be gorged by the bulls' horns. This has actually happened on many occasions. One accident happened in Madrid to a man named Israel Lancho, who was impaled by the bull. The bulls horn went 8 inches into his chest and the doctors said it was a miracle that it had missed his heart. Not all the unlucky bullfighters are able to live through being impaled. Julio Aparicio, who is one of Spain's most famous matadors, was gored in the throat during a bullfight. Miraculously he also recovered.

** Controversy **
Bullfighting is seen as barbaric by animal rights activists and there are protests against the cruelty towards the bull in these special celebrations. It is not at all unusual to see pamphlets and posters in the Spanish towns to put an end to bull fighting. Bullfighting has been controversial in Spain throughout history. Many rulers have found it to be barbaric. For example, Pope Pius V issued a bill titled De Salute Gregis in November 1567 which outlawed bullfighting or any other animals. This only lasted for about 8 years and it was eradicated from orders of of King Philip II. Bullfighting ban attempts happened in the 18th and 19th century, but never had succeeded.

Some activists even create a scene as if they were the bulls by crowding around the arena wearing fake blood and having fake spears attached to their backs.


 * Banned in Catalonia **



After a petition signed by 180,000 people, the bullfight festivals were finally banned in the city o Catalan. The practice was said to be outdated and cruel. The ban is going to be in effect January of 2012. The last bullfights of the season happened in September of 2011. The animal rights activists had run anti-crulelty ads in Barcelona as well as met with politicians and organized group events. They made the city see that bullfighting was nothing but a cruel sport.





Resources:

Spanish Bullfight Controversy[|PETA Takes on Pamplona][|Spanish-Style Bullfighting][|Spain's Catalonia bids farewell to bullfighting]