Bullfighting In Spanish Culture
Corrida de Toros
Bullfighting is one of the many tourist attractions in Spain. Millions of people attend the “corrida de toros” each year, bringing in lots of money to keep the bull rings open. Although the fighting of bulls is considered part of the Spanish culture, this blood spectacle is cruel and disturbing. Bullfighting dates back to 711 A.D. The first bullfight took place for the crowning of King Alfonso VIII. The fights were originally fought on horseback and eventually developed to dodging bulls on foot. Today the practice involves three toreros who fight two bulls. The bulls are at least four years old and weigh from 460-600 kg. The toreros wear a traditional costume consisting of a silk jacket, tight trousers and a montera (hat).
There are three stages to the fight, each starting with the sound of a trumpet. When the bull enters the ring, the torero use special maneuvers or passes with a bright yellow and red cape. Men on horses stab the bulls with long spears to further tire the bulls. By …show more content…
The pre-fight treatment is just as sickening as the slaughter at the end of a fight. Vaseline is rubbed into the bull’s eyes to blur his vision and cotton is stuffed up the nostrils to cut off respiration. Wet newspaper is stuffed down their ears to block their hearing. Then, a caustic solution is rubbed onto the legs to keep the bull from lying down. The bulls are kept in a dark box until the fight so they enter the ring disorientated yet willingly, not knowing they are about to be killed. During the fight, the bulls are taunted and stabbed, leaving them to bleed severely. The final stab of the sword takes two or three times, puncturing the lungs and heart so the bull vomits blood. When the bull finally gives up and lies down to die, his ears and tail are cut off. Mules drag the bull’s body away with chains to be skinned even when they are not fully
Bullfighting is one of the many tourist attractions in Spain. Millions of people attend the “corrida de toros” each year, bringing in lots of money to keep the bull rings open. Although the fighting of bulls is considered part of the Spanish culture, this blood spectacle is cruel and disturbing. Bullfighting dates back to 711 A.D. The first bullfight took place for the crowning of King Alfonso VIII. The fights were originally fought on horseback and eventually developed to dodging bulls on foot. Today the practice involves three toreros who fight two bulls. The bulls are at least four years old and weigh from 460-600 kg. The toreros wear a traditional costume consisting of a silk jacket, tight trousers and a montera (hat).
There are three stages to the fight, each starting with the sound of a trumpet. When the bull enters the ring, the torero use special maneuvers or passes with a bright yellow and red cape. Men on horses stab the bulls with long spears to further tire the bulls. By …show more content…
The pre-fight treatment is just as sickening as the slaughter at the end of a fight. Vaseline is rubbed into the bull’s eyes to blur his vision and cotton is stuffed up the nostrils to cut off respiration. Wet newspaper is stuffed down their ears to block their hearing. Then, a caustic solution is rubbed onto the legs to keep the bull from lying down. The bulls are kept in a dark box until the fight so they enter the ring disorientated yet willingly, not knowing they are about to be killed. During the fight, the bulls are taunted and stabbed, leaving them to bleed severely. The final stab of the sword takes two or three times, puncturing the lungs and heart so the bull vomits blood. When the bull finally gives up and lies down to die, his ears and tail are cut off. Mules drag the bull’s body away with chains to be skinned even when they are not fully