Bullfighters kill bulls. Bullfight! the most heartbreaking spanish spectacle

Does a bull suffer when he is killed in a bullfight? A long-standing dispute between fans and opponents of the traditional Pyrenean stadiums has resumed in Portugal with renewed vigor after a fresh study by Spanish veterinarian Juan Carlos Illera. It claims that bulls are better than other animals to endure pain.

According to the conclusions that Ilyera came to, in moments of stress, the bull's body actively produces a special hormone cortisol, which makes it practically insensitive to pain. According to the veterinarian, during transportation, the artiodactyl suffers several times more than what it feels during the performance in the arena.

As for the flow of blood, Ilyera is not impressed. During the bullfight, the bull loses from three to six liters. This is less than a tenth of all the blood circulating in a huge half-ton animal, he states.

Moreover, the veterinarian proves that the traditional Spanish bullfight, at the end of which the bullfighter stabs the bull with a sword, is more humane than the Portuguese one, where he is spared his life. According to Ilyera, during the Portuguese show, the animal is exposed to much more stress and suffers more.

The study has drawn the ire of animal rights activists. Rita Silva of the Animal Association said evidence such as Ilyera's was "anti-scientific", "lacking a credible methodological approach" and suggesting a deep crisis in the industry. “The bullfighting industry is on the verge of collapse,” she says. “We in Portugal have a good illustration of this. Collapsible arenas have appeared that are transported around the country and mounted in places where there have never been tourad / as the Portuguese call their bullfighting - approx. Corr. ./ This indicates a desperate attempt to acquire at least some viewers."

Opponents of bullfighting protest before each performance. Last weekend, they managed to gather at the Lisbon arena "Campo Pequenu" almost five hundred supporters. Thanks to their noisy campaign, the tourads banned the municipalities of four cities. They are no longer held in Cascais and Sintra, located in the suburbs of the capital, as well as in northern cities Braga and Viana do Castelo.

But to say that the entire industry is in crisis is hardly appropriate. Tourado is visited by half a million Portuguese every year. This means that every twentieth inhabitant of the country comes to see the competition of a man with a bull. There are TV broadcasts, columns dedicated to the art of tauromachy are published in newspapers, so it will not be an exaggeration to say that tourada is still loved and appreciated.

For centuries of existence, the Portuguese bullfight has developed its own rules. Instead of a foot toreador, a mounted cavalry fights in the arena. In fact, the tourada turns into a demonstration the highest art riding. The rider must stick darts into the withers, the length of which decreases each time, jumping to the bull on a horse. For such risky tricks, only horses of a special Lusitanian breed, distinguished by exceptional agility and maneuverability, are suitable.

Tourada ends with another local know-how. Group of foot forcades with bare hands immobilizes the completely angry bull. To do this, first one of them throws himself on the animal's horns / which are filed and dressed in leather cases / and, if the bull fails to throw it off and trample it, hangs on them. Other forkados pounce on the animal with different parties and force him to freeze. Having fixed a complete victory, people scatter. A herd of cows is released into the arena, which calms the bull and drags him into the stall.

The Spanish bullfight with the killing of a bull is practiced in Portugal only in the border village of Barrancos. In other places, tourada is held. The Ministry of Culture has recently established a special Department of Tauromachia, which indicates the recognition of tourada as a valuable part of the country's cultural heritage.

From the notepad corr. ITAR-TASS Andrey Polyakov

Victor Barrio during a performance in Teruel (Autonomous Community of Aragon) revived the voices of those who advocate a complete ban on bullfighting.

The death was the first in the last 30 years, however, bullfighting opponents believe that it is unacceptable to sacrifice the lives of not only people, but also bulls.

In fact, over the past decades, Spain has been forced to impose serious restrictions on bullfighting due to pressure from international animal protection organizations and the European Union. The attitude towards bullfighting in Spanish society is also changing - among young people there are more and more of those who treat this spectacle either indifferently or negatively.

Nevertheless, the Spaniards do not dare to completely abandon bullfighting. After all, what for an outside observer is just a bloody spectacle, for the Spaniards themselves is an important part of their history and culture.

From sacrifice to jousting

Bullfighting originated a very long time ago, several millennia ago. The Iberian tribes that inhabited the Iberian Peninsula revered the bull as a sacred animal. It was impossible to kill him just like that, this was allowed only in the case of a sacrifice to the gods.

Scientists have found in this region a lot of rock paintings depicting bulls and ritual games. The sacrifice of a bull was not a banal murder, but was arranged as a duel, from which only well-trained and physically strong members of the tribe could emerge victorious. The killing of the bull itself could only be committed by priests.

Fresco depicting "playing with bulls". Photo: Public Domain

Centuries later, the religious meaning of the action was lost, but the tradition remained. During the reign of the Arabs for the Spaniards, bullfighting became a way military training, gaining combat skills.

By the end of the 15th century, that is, the time of the completion of the Reconquista and the unification of Spain, bullfighting becomes the entertainment of the noble class.

For Spain, bullfighting during this period becomes the original form of knightly tournaments. In the battles with bulls, then, not on foot, but on horseback warriors participated.

Prohibitions and reforms

By the 16th century, bullfighting had become the main entertainment spectacle in Spain, without which no major celebrations could do.

In Madrid, battles were held in the central Plaza Mayor, where coronation celebrations and the burning of heretics also took place.

Bullfighting problems, by the way, first began to arise back in the 16th century. Pope Pius V issued an edict banning bullfighting on pain of excommunication. Stood up for bullfighting Spanish King Philip II. He convinced the pontiff to rescind the edict, explaining that bullfighting is not an empty entertainment, but a training in the courage of true knights.

And here king Philip V, representative of the dynasty Bourbon, a native of France, considered bullfighting as barbaric and nevertheless imposed a ban on it.

At the beginning of the XVIII century, however, the ancient tradition was revived, but in a significantly modified form. The province of Andalusia became the birthplace of modern bullfighting, and its participants were representatives of the lower class. These people either did not have horses at all, or were afraid to risk them, so they fought bulls as foot soldiers.

Death with consecration

Over the next few decades, bullfighting traditions and rules were developed, which have generally survived to this day. The bullfight turned into a colorful performance, where the bullfighter was required not only to possess weapons, but also to masterfully control his body, to be artistic.

The "golden age" of bullfighting was the first decades of the 20th century. The names of the best bullfighters such as Juan Belmonte, Jose Gomez, Rafael Gonzalez, in Spain they remember and honor to this day. Bullfighting has become widespread in Latin America.

Modern bullfighting is a carefully designed and regulated show, where each participant has his own role. In addition to the matadors who directly kill the bulls, a whole staff of assistants works in the arena, periodically diverting the animal to themselves and ready to help the matadors in a critical situation.

The bullfight is divided into three thirds - the third of the peak, the third of the banderillas and the third of death. During the death third, the bullfighter, having received the murder weapon, holding the sword in his left hand and his hat in his right, goes to the person to whom he is going to dedicate his "work". Approaching him with his head uncovered and his arm outstretched, he gives a dedication speech, after which he throws his hat into the arena over his shoulder.

The meat of a bull killed in the arena is offered to tourists

The killing of the first bull is traditionally dedicated to the chairman of the bullfight, who, as a rule, is the mayor of the city or another representative of the civil authorities.

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

The carcass of the killed bull is sent to the butchers, after which its meat is offered in restaurants, where it is popular with tourists.

At the same time, it must be said that it does not differ in high taste qualities. The bullfight involves bulls of a special breed, bred exclusively for fighting. The pedigrees of fighting bulls are carefully monitored in order to improve the breed. Bullfights involve bulls at least 4 years old and weighing at least 450 kg.

Fighting bulls are very different from their normal counterparts. Unlike them, they have increased aggressiveness and are able to attack not only in self-defense, but, so to speak, out of anger. Fighting bulls do not shy away from a fight and always attack head-on, not trying to be cunning.

Professional bullfighter gets 20 dangerous injuries in his career

The rules of bullfighting are difficult to understand for an outsider. Despite the fact that the whole spectacle is interpreted by many as the torture of a bull, the bullfighter must treat the bull as a friend, showing due respect for his strength and courage. If a bullfighter is caught doing something that is considered disrespectful to the bull, it could cost him his career.

Despite the fact that many people call bullfighting an unfair battle, the career of a bullfighter is very hard work. The training of future masters begins in specialized schools at the age of 10-12 years. For the first time, young bullfighters enter the real arena at the age of 18-20. Professional career can last 15-20 years, but of them, in the status of a star, the torero rarely spends more than 5-7 seasons. At the same time, every professional receives at least 20 dangerous blows with a horn during his career, and sometimes these injuries turn out to be very severe.

Most often, wounds are inflicted in the thigh, groin, scrotum, abdominal cavity, less often in chest and neck.

During the XIX-XX centuries, more than 60 matadors and over 350 banderilleros, picadors, assistants and masters of ceremonies died in the arenas of Spain. In Madrid, near the arena of Las Ventas, monuments to the dead matadors were erected.

Women in the arena and "forgiveness" for the bull

Not everyone knows, but bullfighting is not at all a purely male affair. Torero women have been performing in the arenas of Spain on an equal footing with men for several centuries. The ban on their participation in battles was imposed only during the period of Franco's dictatorship, but with the fall of the regime it was canceled.

Another common misconception associated with bullfighting is that the bull is doomed to die. Some types of modern bullfighting, such as Portuguese, do not involve killing a bull at all.

Concerning Spanish bullfight, then in the event that the bull showed exceptional courage and the public asks the president of the arena to save the life of the bull, the chairman of the bullfight can grant him "forgiveness". By the way, the highest skill of a matador is the ability to reveal the possibilities of his horned opponent in such a way that he deserves “forgiveness” from the public.

If “forgiveness” was not earned and the bull was killed, then the bullfighter is waiting for his assessment, which is determined by the chairman of the bullfight. If the audience expresses approval, then the chairman awards one ear of the killed bull as a trophy to the bullfighter. The stormy delight of the public gives the bullfighter the right to two ears. The outstanding performance of the master can be judged by the two ears and tail of the animal.

In those exceptional cases, when a bull kills a matador, he is doomed - such an animal is killed immediately, regardless of whether the public likes it.

Photo: www.globallookpress.com

Encierro in Pamplona: alcohol is contraindicated

Another famous Spanish bull-related entertainment is the Pamplona bull run, which traditionally takes place from 7 to 14 July every morning during the feasts of Saint Fermin.

The bulls released from the corral run along the city streets for about 1 km, and everyone who wants to try to run away from them. This entertainment is unsafe - since 1924, a dozen and a half runners have been killed in Pamplona, while hundreds have been crippled.

The running of the bulls, which the Spaniards call "encierro", is held not only in Pamplona, but it is the festival in this city that has gained worldwide fame. Ensierro is directly related to bullfighting - initially the run of the bulls was an entertainment preceding the fights, and the bulls themselves were driven precisely to the arena for fights.

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 dead 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.

Veronica

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!

Bullfighting is the most common form of bullfighting, a traditional Spanish spectacle, also practiced in some other countries and consisting in the performance of a certain sequence of figures with a bull of a special Iberian breed, usually culminating in the killing 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).

In symbolic terms, the bull, often black, can be interpreted as the personification of death, which gives the duel a ritual character. However, the ethics of bullfighting requires the bullfighter to treat the bull not as a victim and show due respect for his strength and courage.

Officially, the rules prohibit injuring a bull before it enters the ring, but in reality, these violations of these rules occur quite often. Various tricks used before the fight are common: beating the bulls before the fight with heavy sandbags; the introduction of a sedative or stimulant, depending on the aggressiveness of the bull; sawing off the horns, after which the bull finds it difficult to correctly assess the distance; lubricating the eyes with petroleum jelly or a special mixture based on gasoline so that the bull sees worse; marinating the bull with thirst and / or over-baking before entering the arena, which makes it difficult for him to move; cutting tendons on the legs; a preliminary stab in the neck, due to which the bull cannot turn his head, sticking cigar butts into his ears before entering the arena. Often, in order to anger the bull before the fight, his testicles are tied up, which causes great pain and rage in the animal. In equestrian bullfighting, filing the bull's horns to ensure the safety of the horse is a legal practice.

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 or slaughtered, but will never be released into the arena again:

This is very dangerous for any matador. The bull knows too much after the first fight. After half an hour, he begins to understand all the fighting technique and remembers it for many years.

Bullfighting is divided into three parts (tercios, tercios), two of which include "tests" (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.

First third

Otherwise called "tercio peak" (tercio de varas). It begins with the fact that a bull runs out of the corral, and he is first met by assistant bullfighters with raincoats.

The capote is a large cape, pink on one side (which is shown to the bull) and yellow (sometimes blue) on the other. It can be rubberized for rigidity. Capote is used by both the matador and subordinates to meet the bull as it enters the arena. Capote is used both in artistic techniques and directly in a duel. Because of its weight, it must be grasped with both hands. The capote fight, especially prized in Latin America, is used by the matador in the first two thirds, and by his quadrilla throughout the bullfight, to "run at the bull, stop it, fix it".

Exit Picador

Two picadors on horseback, one after the other, strike the bull's nape with a special pike to loosen the muscles of his neck and make sure he reacts to pain. This also reduces the aggressiveness of the attack and makes it possible to further reduce the bull's chances of injuring the matador. Historically, this equestrian part of the bullfight was the most important, as it came directly from the ancient aristocratic fun with the bull.

There are two white circles drawn on the arena. The picador must remain outside the outer circle in order to take the charge of the bull during the first third. At the same time, the bullfighters must keep the bull within the inner circle before it attacks the picador. The development of this episode is divided into three stages: cita, encuentro, salida (meeting, competition, exit). 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. True, horse lovers question the purpose of this armor as protection:

Formally, a bullfighting horse is wearing some kind of quilted, linen armor called "el peto". Bullfighting connoisseurs chuckle at the term "armor", which only tourists are reassured by. In fact, everyone knows that a light-colored linen or tarpaulin blanket, NOT PROTECTING a horse, is put on it only to designate the horse as the most noticeable spot and address the blow to the bull that sees very poorly at the moment of the “corrido duel” - precisely on the horse. (And . Nevzorov)

Second third

Known as "tercio banderillas" (tercio de banderillas). The goal is to "punish" the bull and measure its rage without taking away its strength. Participants seek to "revive" or "cheer" the bull. Therefore, banderillas, short decorated spears that remain in the animal's body, are also called "pleasures". Until the 18th century, they were stuck one at a time at bullfighting, but then they began to be placed in pairs three times.

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.

third third

The last third (death third) involves preparing the bull for death with a muleta and killing it with a sword. Although the torero dedicates all the episodes of the fight to some person, it is in this “number” that the customs are more rooted. The death of the first bull of each matador must also be dedicated to the chairman of the bullfight (remnants of the etiquette ceremonies that "impregnate" bullfights). At the moment of receiving the murder weapons, the bullfighter, holding a muleta and a sword in his left hand, and a hat in his right, goes to the person to whom he is going to dedicate his "work". Approaching him with his head uncovered and his arm outstretched, he gives a dedication speech, after which he throws his hat into the arena over his shoulder. Tradition says that it is considered a good omen when the hat falls upside down, and a bad omen upside down; so sometimes the bullfighters turn it over if it fell upside down. Although dedications in verse are no longer proclaimed, this used to be a very common custom. Particularly colorful were those in which the bullfighters gave themselves up to their own resourcefulness, the works of which often turned out to be careless and unfinished.

Decisive blow

After performing artistic work with the bull, when he is tired and exhausted, the decisive moment comes - the death of the bull, and this is the culmination of the bullfight. In the early stages of the development of bullfighting, the entire quadrille killed the bull. Now this is done exclusively by the matador.

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 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, 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 bull meat is then sold.

Sometimes, if the bull shows special courage and the audience asks the president of the arena about it, then after the bull is killed, his carcass is transported around the arena in a circle (vuelta), and the audience applauds him. 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 after that becomes tribal (semental). However, the bull that killed the matador is subject to death in any case.

IN this moment the popularity of bullfighting is declining, due to the coming of society to the realization of the immorality of cruel entertainment, as well as due to the spread of various animal protection movements. In 1998, the European Community condemned bullfighting and forbade giving it the status of a cultural event. The legislation of Spain has not yet introduced a complete ban on bullfighting, however, making money on it is mainly due to tourism, since most Spaniards do not visit it, and a significant part (50%) have a negative attitude towards it (according to the Ministry of Culture of Spain) . In France, this figure reaches 83%. Most often, bullfighting takes place in half-empty stadiums, many tourists do not inspect it to the end. Public television often refuses to show bullfights. In some Spanish cities (for example, Girona), where bullfighting was traditionally held on the occasion of holidays, it is no longer held at all.

December 9, 2010 | Categories: People , Events , Photos

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How is bullfighting

According to the rules in bullfighting, 3 matadors ("matador" in Spanish - "killer") kill 6 bulls, 2 each. The spectacle usually lasts for 2-2.5 hours, but may be delayed. It already depends on the matador: he is supposed to "play" with the bull for at least 15 minutes. Bulls are specially bred for bullfighting. This is a separate breed, which, purely at a glance, looks smaller than ordinary bulls. They live in an ordinary herd, where during their life they are prepared for bullfighting with sticks, shouts and other things, and upon reaching 4-5 years of age, the bulls enter the battle scene.

A bull is released from a special pen with a rose cockade already pinned to the withers. That is, he already has the original wound. Assistants here and there appear from behind a fence with yellow-crimson canvases, which are called capote, and chase the beast. Contrary to popular belief that the color red irritates the animal, the bull does not distinguish colors at all, but only runs on what moves. Then picadors on horseback appear on the stage. The horses' eyes are covered with blinders, otherwise the horse sees the bull and is frightened of him. Picadors with long lances must prick and provoke the bull, and he tries to knock down the horse. Naturally, the horse is hung with armor on all sides. The bull is almost always persistently trying to fill up the rider, so picadors use pikes more in order to protect themselves. This does not cause approval among the audience, and in general, the profession of a picador is not held in high esteem by the local population. Then the banderilleros stick small peaks with tinsel into the withers of the bull, which are called banderilles. This is done in three sets of two banderillas. It does not always happen that it is possible to stick both of them, but this procedure is not replayed; how it works, it works. Naturally, the more successful, the more spectacular. When the bull is wound up, a matador (aka bullfighter - although there is no such concept in Spanish) enters the scene with the ultimate goal of killing the bull. Matador is the most honorable profession in Spain and these are the richest people. As I said, the bullfighter (note: "torero" is any participant in the bullfight, here we mean the matador) is given 15 minutes to kill the bull.

It doesn't necessarily have to be that way. It happens that the bull comes across sluggish and he is afraid of people. He is turned on as far as possible, but if the audience does not like it, the bull is taken off the stage and changed to another. If the bull is so afraid that he does not want to leave, then cows are released into the arena. The beast runs after the cows, but in Spain this is already considered a great shame for the bull. (Although, of course, it is not clear what difference it makes to him?)

Eyewitness eyes:

And here comes the matador. This is the main (after the bull, probably) participant in the spectacle. It depends on him how effective it will be. With the assistance of assistants, the bullfighter brings the bull to the highest point of rage. Then the bullfighter remains in the arena alone with the bull. The bleeding wounds on the animal's back had already turned the banderilla tinsel into squelching red-and-black rags. And the bullfighter makes beautiful gestures, teasing the animal with a muleta (red cloth), turning to the public, turning his back to the bull - there is a great deal of artistry here to show that he is no more afraid of this beast than a mosquito in the palm of his hand. The audience gets more and more turned on, and is already yelling: "Kill him!"
But the matador is clearly in no hurry. He feels his strength and his power over the animal, and continues to play with him, teasing the animal with the cloth of the muleta. It's a fair fight, and a really dangerous one. After all, any mistake can cost a person life. To stumble and fall is fraught with severe injuries, because the bullfighter is here alone, and there will be no one to distract the angry bull. If only the animal had a little more intelligence - and it has enough strength - and a person would never resist a mountain of muscles, brimming with heat and fury. Finally, the bullfighter comes to the fence and takes a sword with a curved end. It must be planted exactly in a certain place at the withers so that the sword reaches the heart and pierces it. Of course, the bullfighter perfectly knows how the bull works in order to achieve the final result, but then a specific case plays out. If you manage to kill a bull the first time, this is considered the height of professionalism. But it does not matter if the bull lies on the second attempt. But the third-fourth is already considered a weak performance, and this causes disappointment among the audience. (Only once did the public forgive their most famous Spanish matador's fourth attempt because he was so famous and professional that the audience turned a blind eye to a single slip). And so, the bullfighter prepared for the attack. The music stopped, the rows fell silent. The bullfighter froze, the bull froze. A sudden wave tore the arm from its place, and the sword stuck into the bull. But it was a miss - she rested on the bone and bounced off.

Torero kills a bull

According to the rules, the bullfighter must take a new sword. He fiddled with the bull for a short time, and now he prepared to strike again. This time everything worked out, and the sword entered the body to the very hilt. Immediately, assistants from the capote ran up and began to twist them around the bull, so that in the end it would get dizzy and he would quickly fall. The bull was very strong and stood for almost a minute. But then the legs buckled, and the once strong and formidable animal fell to its knees, and then fell on its side. The bull was immediately finished off by hitting him in the head with a short dagger. The beast jerked its limbs and died.

But three horses rode out the arena. The bull was hitched by the horns and quickly taken away to applause. It was a very successful performance. The bullfighter made a circle, saluting the audience with a hat, the orchestra played, and the audience shouted and clapped their hands! With such a successful outcome, it is supposed to salute the bullfighter by waving white handkerchiefs, and indeed, the locals clearly followed this rule. For the shown skill, the torero is awarded with the ears cut off from the bull, as it was this time.

After the bullfight?

The carcass of the bull is then butchered and the meat is sold to goat lovers. Of course, only a big gourmet would dare to eat thinly sliced \u200b\u200bmeat, tourists are afraid to do this. By the way, the well-known anecdote about the delicate part of the bull is true (in relation to the animal): it is really sold to restaurants and is a very expensive and delicious dish.

Then they killed 5 more bulls, but it was not so exciting. In addition, our head and teeth ached terribly, and without waiting for the last bull, we went to the bus stop. The tour did not end there, and the singing fountains of Barcelona awaited us...