|
BULLFIGHTING
The bullfight is not for everyone. Many foreigners feel it’s inhumane
treatment of a helpless animal. There is bloodletting. If you can’t tolerate
this sort of thing you’d probably be happier not attending a bullfight.
Bullfighting is big business is Mexico, Spain, Portugal, and South America. The
corida de toros (running of the bulls) is made up of a troupe of (now) well paid
men all playing an important in the drama. In the country’s largest arena (in
Mexico City) 50,000 people fill it for each performance on Sundays and holidays.
The afternoon starts off (promptly 1600) with music and a colorful parade of
solem pomp with matadors and picadors on horseback banderilleros, plus drag
mules and many ring attendants. The matadors ceremoniously circle the crowded
arena to the roar of the crowd. The afternoon has begun!
The traditional costumes of the ring have not changed in centuries. The matador
is the star of the event. This ceremony is a test of man and his courage. He is
in the ring for one purpose, to kill the bull---but bravely and with classic
moves. First the preliminary quites and then a series of graceful veronicas
heightens the excitement brushing the treacherous horns with each move. The
matador wills the animal to come closer with each movement of the muleta. He is
outstanding if he performs his ballet as close to the bulls horns as possible
oh, how the crowd cheers!). To add to the excitement, he does much of this on
his knees. At the hour of truth, the crowd gives its permission for the matador
to dedicate the bull to a special person in the crowd. He throws his montera
(hat) to the honored person and will now show his stuff.
At just the right moment he slips the estoque (sword) into the bulls neck. If he’s
an artist, he will sever the aorta and the huge animal immediately slumps to the
ground and dies instantly. If the matador displays extraordinary grace, skill,
and bravery, the crowd the crowd awards him the ears and tail, and their
uncontrollable respect.
Bullfighting has long since been one of the most popular events in Mexico.
Aficionados of this Spanish art form thrill to the excitement of the crowd, the
stirring music, the grace and courage of a noble matador, and the bravery of a
good bull. A student of Mexico will want to take part in the corrida, to learn
more about this powerful art. Art is the keyword. A bullfight is not a fight, it
is an artistic scene of pageantry and ceremony handed down from the middle ages
that was celebrated all over Europe.
Records of this primitive bullfight come to us from the island of Crete, 2000
years before the time of Christ. At the same time in Spain savage wild bulls
roamed the Iberian Peninsula. When faced with killing one of these vicious
animals, young men, not to be outdone by the Cretons, would "dance" as
closely as possible to the brute to show their bravery before finally killing
the animal with an axe.
The Spanish began importing wild bulls for Colosseum spectacles and the Arabs in
Spain encouraged tauromachia (bullfighting). In 1090, El Cid (Rodrigo Diaz de
Vivar), the hero of Valencia and subject of romantic legend, is believed to have
fought in the first organized bull festival. He lanced and killed a wild bull
from the back of his horse showing great skill. In this era, only noblemen were
allowed to use a lance. And the corrida soon became the sport of kings. Even
Julius Caesar is said to have gotten in the ring with a wild bull. |
Call
our Friendly Experts - You'll Love Us!