Bullfighting is a killer sight. Bullfight! the most heartbreaking Spanish spectacle bullfighting bull kills a horse

Even just going on vacation to Spain, the family was already burning with the desire to go to the bullfight. But no one took steps to achieve the goal, and therefore I hoped that I would do without it. It didn't work out. As soon as we arrived in Valencia, we came across a poster announcing today's evening bullfight. The issue was thus resolved. The arena is large, we sat high enough, so we didn't get detailed photos, but maybe that's for the best. I felt sorry for the bulls.

The spectacle begins with the release of a fresh and vigorous bull into the arena. Which is first taunted almost from behind the fence, then wounded with a pike, and when the bull is already losing strength, a proud bullfighter comes out and stabs him. They do it with varying degrees of skill. The first torrero, for example, killed a bull with a god knows what blow. The audience booed him. The second was the best specialist and stabbed the bull with one movement. he received a standing ovation.

Interestingly, there are very few tourists among the public - the bulk are locals. They get sick consciously, some actions of the torrero or his assistants cause delight and applause, others - on the contrary. Of course, not all of this is clear to us, but in general, the bullfight seemed to me an equal duel between an animal and a person, but everything turned out to be not quite so.

I did not film all the moments of the action, for some reason I did not photograph the picadors on horses in armor. The horses are blindfolded so that they are not afraid of the bull, but in general they are some kind of special horses - calm as tanks. Almost all bulls butt the horse and try to turn it over, but the horse does not react to this at all.

Bullfights involve bulls of a special breed that are at least 4 years old (and usually no more than 6). Bulls are bred on special farms and before the fight a small colored pennant is stuck into the neck of the bull, by which one can determine the origin of the bull. You can also learn about this from the brand and from the poster, which is often shown before the exit of the bull. In the program, in addition to the name of the torreadors, the names of the farms where the bulls are raised are also indicated.

Initially, bullfighting was held in city squares, usually rectangular. With the formation of bullfighting rules in the 18th century, so that the bull did not hide in a corner, round squares began to be built first. Over the next hundred years, round arenas were erected in all the important cities of Spain. In its structure, the arena resembles a Roman circus, in Rome bullfights are held in the ancient Roman amphitheater, with places for spectators located in the amphitheater, a round sand-covered arena, which is separated from the amphitheater by a barrier about 140 cm high, and office space. Since the sun mainly shines on one side of the arena, this side is called "Sol" - the sun. The side that is mostly in shadow is called "Sombra" - shadow. During a bullfight, there are places where the sun will leave, as well as places where it can appear. The presence or absence of the sun affects the ticket price.

In Spain, arenas are divided into 3 categories. The first category is squares in Madrid Seville, Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Bilbao, Zaragoza, San Sebastian and Cordoba. The second category is arenas in provincial capitals. The third is all the rest. When there are no bullfights, the arenas can be used for concerts and other spectacles.

Interestingly, since 2011, bullfighting in Barcelona has been banned by the Parliament of the Republic of Catalonia, but it is still held.

Bullfighting is divided into three parts (I will briefly quote Wikipedia for a better understanding of the process.)

First part. It begins with a bull running out of the corral, and he is first met by the helpers of the torero, their task is to tease the bull with the help of yellow and pink capote capes. There are two white circles drawn on the arena. The bullfighter must keep the bull within the inner circle before it attacks the picador. The picador must remain outside the outer circle in order to take the charge of the bull. When the picador meets the bull, the bullfighter and assistants stand to the left of the horse. The bull inflicts cruel blows with his horns on the side of the horse. Since the 19th century, horses have been protected with special armor that softens blows. In general, bullfighting horse injuries are common. Sometimes the bull manages to turn the horse over. It happens that the rider at the same time is crushed by the horse: most of the injuries inflicted on picadors in the bullfight come from this. All arenas have a veterinary station for horses.

Second part. Known as the "third banderilla". The goal is to measure the rage of the bull without taking away his strength. Participants seek to "revive" or "cheer" the bull. Therefore, banderillas, short decorated spears, are also called "pleasures". The execution of this part of the bullfight is entrusted to assistants, they are also called banderilleros, although sometimes the matador himself performs this episode. There are three banderilleros in each quadrilla, usually two of them approach the bull a total of three times with a pair of banderilleros. Thus, each of the banderilleros makes two approaches towards the end of the bullfight.

The third part. The last third (death third) involves preparing the bull for death with a muleta and killing it with a sword. A muleta is a small red cloak stretched over a wooden stick approx. 50 cm

The bull must be killed within 10 minutes of the start of the third third. If this does not happen, the bullfighter is given the first warning. After 3 minutes, a second warning is given. If after another 2 minutes the bull is alive, then it is taken away to be left for the next bullfight or slaughtered. This development is shameful for any bullfighter.

Killing is always carried out facing the animal and the goal is to insert the sword into the hole between the front ribs in order to hit the heart and cause death as quickly as possible.

Usually the matador makes 3 or 4 attempts with the sword before the bull falls. In the heyday of bullfighting, not killing a bull with a sword from several attempts made was considered a shame, although it was not uncommon (a negative record is 34 attempts). In modern times such misfortunes occur quite often, in which case the bullfighter uses another sword, with a cross at the end of the blade (descabello), to cut the bull's spine. As soon as the bull falls, the banderillero sticks a small knife (puntilla) into the same place so as not to cause unnecessary suffering to the animal (if this is not done, then the death of the bull occurs as a result of internal bleeding, which can last up to 6 minutes). A dead or still agonizing animal is cut off trophies - ears and tail. Next a few mules the carcass of the slaughtered bull is dragged out of the arena, after which it is handed over to the butchers who are waiting outside. The meat of the bull is then distributed to the poor or transported to hospitals or social institutions.

By the end of the 15th century, that is, the time of the completion of the Reconquista and the unification of Spain, bullfighting (equestrian) becomes the entertainment of the noble class, a caballero, a knight on horseback, fights with a bull. In the 16th century, many major holidays could not do without bullfighting. In Madrid, battles were staged in the central square, on the Plaza Mayor, where the most important events for the country took place, and on the days of the coronation celebrations, the kings came out to greet the people. However, already in the Middle Ages, they tried to ban bullfighting. In the middle of the XVI century Pope Pius V issued an edict, prohibiting bullfights under pain of excommunication - however, the Spanish monarch himself achieved the abolition of strict church sanctions.

Walking bullfight appears at the beginning of the 18th century, as a result, bullfighting becomes a holiday for people of the lower classes who did not have their own horses (or were afraid to risk them). The birthplace of modern bullfighting is Andalusia. In the next hundred years, the first famous bullfighters appeared, who developed the rituals and techniques of the modern - Joaquin Rodriguez, Jose Delgado Guerra, Pedro Romero Martinez.

After the Civil War of 1936-1939, when new outstanding matadors appeared, the popularity of bullfighting rapidly increased. At the same time, in the twentieth century, a large-scale movement began in Spain to abolish bullfighting. In recent decades, the popularity of bullfighting has been falling, now it has many opponents, especially among animal advocates. At the same time, King Juan Carlos of Spain said that the day Brussels bans bullfighting will be the last day of Spain's stay in the European Union.

Fighting bull.

Bulls of a special breed participate in bullfighting. Bulls are raised on special farms ( ganader í as ), and before the fight, a small colored pennant is stuck into the scruff of the bull, by which one can determine the origin of the bull. Bullfights involve bulls that are at least 4 years old (and usually no more than 6). Sometimes the weight of the bull is regulated (at least 450 kg). The bull in the arena has very little chance of surviving after the fight. If this does happen, the bull will be used for breeding, but will never be released into the arena again.

Everyone knows that the bull is a ferocious, powerful animal that can smash anything in its path just by seeing the red cloth. But it's not. In fact, red bulls are not annoying. This is a misconception - bulls react to sudden movements and rapid changes in the position of objects. It is worth paying attention to the fact that when the bullfighter teases the bull, he makes short jerky movements with the muleta. In turn, the animal becomes furious and rushes to the red canvas.

Arenas for bullfighting.

arena in mexico city

Initially, bullfighting was held in city squares, usually rectangular in shape (a typical example is Plaza Mayor in Madrid). With the formation of bullfighting rules in the 18th century, so that the bull did not hide in a corner, round squares began to be built, the first - La Maestranza in Seville in 1733. Since the sun mainly shines on one side of the arena, this side is called Sol-Sun. The side that is mostly in shadow is called Sombra-shadow. The biggest arena for bullfighting in the world is Plaza monumentalin Mexico City with 55,000 seats. When there are no bullfights, the arenas can be used for concerts and other spectacles.

Bullfight order.

Bullfight posters contain the standard wording: the performance will take place on such and such a date, "if the weather does not prevent it, with the permission of the authorities and under their chairmanship." Chairman (or President, presidente ) - the mayor of the city or another representative of the civil authorities (corrida in Spain is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Internal Affairs). He signals the beginning of each phase of the bullfight and orders the rewarding of the matador.

Bullfighting is divided into three parts (thirds, tercios), two of which include "trials" ( suertes , literally - luck, fate, option; sometimes each of the phases of bullfighting is also called suerte ). The beginning of each section is signaled by the sound of a trumpet.

From the beginning picador on a horse, it infuriates, but also exhausts the bull with pricks of a pike; behind him banderilleros, holding in their hands two colorful darts with their points down, with graceful calmness they go at the bull, stick it in the neck and run back with small steps; and finally accompanied capeadoros, waving their cloaks, the main character appears - matador, he is an Espada, who has become the main figure in the arena since Philip V canceled the participation of mounted bullfighters in the main battle. For a real bullfighter, the main thing is not how he avoids the blows of the bull, but how he follows the traditions, performing the next choreographic figure.

Lamborghini Murcielago

Last third (third of death) involves preparing a bull for death with mulets and his murder with a sword. The bull must be killed within 10 minutes of the start of the third third. Killing is always carried out facing the animal and the goal is to insert the sword into the hole between the front ribs to hit the heart and cause death as quickly as possible. Next, several mules drag the carcass of the killed bull from the arena, after which it is passed to the butchers who are waiting outside. The meat of the bull is then distributed to the poor or transported to hospitals or social institutions.

Bull and torero awards.

If the bull has shown exceptional courage and the audience asks the president of the arena to save the life of the bull, then he can grant the bull "forgiveness". In this case, killing a bull is imitated with a banderilla or just a hand. Usually the bull then becomes breeding ( semental ). However, the bull that killed the matador is subject to death in any case. It should be especially noted that “Forgiveness” is, in fact, the main goal bullfighting. The task of the matador is to reveal and show all the possibilities of the bull, so that the audience and the president of the bullfight grant the bull forgiveness.

More than 120 years have passed since the glorious bull was pardoned murcielago, who survived after 24 blows of the bullfighter, and his name still does not live and even gave the name to the new carLamborghini.

Trophies are awarded to the matador who has shown outstanding art. They go in the following order: with the consent of the public, the matador can make a lap of honor around the arena. If the audience liked bullfighter

salida en hombros

spent bullfighting, then he can be given one or two bull ears, and sometimes a tail, which means that the bullfighter himself can sell the bull he has defeated. Trophies are cut from a dead or dying bull and given to the matador or novillero, who then completes one or more laps of honor around the arena. If he gets at least two ears during the entire bullfight, he deserves the right to be carried out of the arena on the shoulders of the public ( salida en hombros ).

On the other hand, the audience can also express disapproval in the form of silence, whistling and throwing pillows into the arena, on which spectators sit on the stone or concrete tiers of the arena.

How much do bullfighters earn?

bullfighters far from poor people, for their performances they receive high fees, not to mention the laurels and honors of national heroes. The fee of the famous matador in a large arena is one hundred thousand dollars for one battle.

20 career strikes
During his career, the matador receives an average of twenty horn wounds. Foot toreadors begin to fight at the age of eighteen - twenty years, and learn from ten. By the age of forty, they are already retiring, and there are no more than seven stellar seasons in their lives.

Victims.

In Spain, France and Portugal, about 6 thousand bullfights and novillades are held annually, in which about 30 thousand bulls die. At the same time, during the 19th-20th centuries in Spain, only 63 matadors died during the fighting, as well as 350 banderilleros, picadors, assistants and masters of ceremonies.

At the Madrid arena Las Ventas erected monuments to fallen matadors, as well as the discoverer of penicillin Fleming from the grateful bullfighters (after the introduction of antibiotics, mortality dropped sharply). Injuries, including serious ones, are very common.

Fight to ban bullfighting.

Activists opposed to bullfighting hold various actions before major extravaganzas in Spain, and also oppose the organization of bullfighting outside the traditional area of ​​​​its distribution (for example, in Russia in 2001-2002).

In Spain, bullfighting is no longer held in the Canary Islands (although cockfighting, which is part of the local tradition, continues there). In 2004 Barcelona was declared a "city free from bullfighting", but this statement did not acquire the force of law (due to the fact that bullfighting is the responsibility of the central government) and bullfighting in Barcelona is still held regularly. On July 28, 2010, Catalan parliamentarians voted to ban bullfighting from 2012.

opponents of bullfighting

In 2007, Spain launched campaign to ban the broadcast of bullfighting. The central television channel refused to broadcast TVE. Channel officials said: her policy is contrary to showing scenes of violence and excessive cruelty at a time when the TV is watched by a minor audience»

Arguments of bullfighting supporters:

• Bullfighting is an integral part of the Spanish cultural heritage and national identity.
• Torero in battle demonstrates a beautiful art, similar to ballet (the dictionary of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Spain defines tauromachia like art). Spectators come to look not at the torment of the bull, but at the skill and courage of the torero.
• The suffering of the bull does not exceed what many domestic animals undergo, but the bull, unlike them, dies with dignity and, in case of exceptional courage, can be “forgiven” and left alive
• Bullfighting helped preserve a valuable species of fighting bulls, which, most likely, would simply disappear from the face of the earth forever.

Bullfighting outside of Spain.

France

In the south of France, in Provence and Languedoc, bullfighting according to Spanish rules is widespread (the main arenas are Nimes and Arles). Another type of French tauromachy is course landaise with cows, where some participants hold the cow, while others jump over it (the rules vary depending on the area).

Latin America

Corrida according to the Spanish canons is common in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama, Bolivia.

Portugal

Portuguese variation of bullfighting called "torada" ( tourada), differs significantly from Spanish. Since the 17th century, a bull has not been killed on it. Although matadors on foot (who carry out the same actions with the bull as in Spain, with the exception of killing him), the classic Portuguese bullfight includes an equestrian part (the main participant is a cavalheiro rider) often participate in the torada.

Bullfights in the Portuguese style and without causing injury to the animal are regularly held in California.

Women in a bullfight.

Conchita Sintron

In Spain, women took part in bullfighting even two hundred years ago. In the eighteenth century, the arenas of Madrid performed Pajuelera one of the most famous matadors in the world. However, already in the twentieth century, in the 30s and 40s, the fairer sex was forbidden to participate in bullfighting. Conchita Sintron- the only one who was allowed to act in the arena as an equestrian matador. Conchita came from a very influential and noble family, and was also a friend of the famous writer E. Hemingway.

Since 1974 the ban has been lifted. Now anyone who dares to challenge the “sacred animal” could again perform in the bullfight. Few women are seen today in bullfighting. This is due to the fact that the public, perhaps too biased, considers bullfighting to be an exclusively male sport. At the same time, everyone forgets that a woman is endowed with natural grace and that this is exactly what is needed in order to be a professional matador.

NB: For my part, I note that before going to watch a bullfight, one should take into account the high prices for this pleasure (the ticket can reach 500 euros), as well as the endurance of one’s own nervous system. Although, fans of the NTV channel, probably, no longer care about bullfighting.

about the author

Veronica

Teaching languages ​​is my life, I can't do anything else, and I don't want to do anything else. in 2016, I decided to create the LF School in order to assemble a wonderful team of professional teachers and share experience and effective secrets in education, so that classes at our school become necessary for you and bring the desired result. I will be very glad to see you among the students of our school, or among my personal students!

Do you know that...

1.6 kilograms - the weight of a sperm whale tooth

Site search

Let's get acquainted

Every year, over 40,000 bulls are savagely killed during bullfights around the world. From the moment the bulls enter the arena, they have no chance of survival. Before the performance, they are specially made weaker, using for this various ways: beaten with sandbags, using laxatives, drugs, sawing off the horns, rubbing Vaseline into the eyes to impair the ability to judge the distance.

In a typical Spanish bullfight, the bull enters the arena and waits for the picador, who approaches on a blindfolded horse. He gallops around the bull and throws small but very sharp spears at him, aiming at the back and neck.

When the bull weakens from loss of blood, and from dizziness stands still, throwing spears stops. A matador steps in and tries to kill the bull with a sword. If all attempts to stab the bull with a sword are unsuccessful, then a dagger comes to the aid of the matador. The use of a dagger involves delivering a single but very accurate blow to the back of the animal's brain. Sometimes, the dagger does its job only partially, and then the paralyzed bull, but still conscious, is pulled out of the arena by the horns.

The dead or still agonizing animal is cut off the trophies - ears and tail, after which several mules pull the body of the killed bull from the arena, and it is handed over to the butchers who are waiting outside. A few minutes later, another bull enters the arena, and the sadistic cycle begins in a new circle.

Travel agencies, luring tourists, describe this fight as a fair competition and a celebratory action. They don't tell tourists that a bull usually doesn't have the ability to defend itself, let alone survive. Most tourists who have witnessed a bullfight are disgusted and do not want to see it again.

There is also a "Running of the Bulls" in Pamplona, ​​Spain. Bulls are pushed into the streets with electric shocks. Animals in a panic often lose their bearings and crash into the walls and corners of houses, breaking bones and injuring themselves. All bulls after a run are waiting for a slaughter.

Bulls are not the only victims in bullfighting. Horses are used in bullfighting with blindfolds and ear plugs so as not to be frightened by the bull or the noise of the crowd. These animals are often death blows from bulls, when the rider, saving his life, exposes the horse to a blow or forcing it to gallop as close as possible to the bull. Every year, about 200 horses are killed in arenas around the world.

Dissatisfaction with bullfighting is growing. In April 2004, the city council of Barcelona banned this primitive sport, and in 2008 52 municipalities have already joined the initiative. According to a study in 2006, 72 percent of Spaniards show no interest in bullfighting. For comparison, this figure in 1980 was 54 percent.