What is a bullfight?
A Spanish bullfight is a fight to the death between a man and bull. This fight is considered an art form by some people and hideous torture by others.
Six bulls and three bullfighters participate in a traditional bullfight, each matador fights two bulls.
Mature fighting bulls can weigh as much as (600-700 kg).
Bullfights take place at bullrings.
Bull runs normally happen when he bulls are brought into the town and run through the streets on the way to the bullring.
The most famous bull run happens in Pamplona in July. The runners normally try to run next to or in front of the bulls without touching them.
Since record-keeping began in 1910, 15 people have been killed in the bull running of Pamplona, most of them due to being gored. 200 medical personel are available to provide instant medical attention.
A typical Spanish bullfight has three distinct stages or tercios (thirds); the start of is announced by the sound of a bugle.
At the start of a corrida de toros (bullfight) all the participants enter the arena in a parade, called the paseíllo, to salute the presiding dignitary, accompanied by band music.
The word "Arena" in Spanish means sand in English.
The first third of a bullfight is called the Tercio de Varas. After the bull is released into the ring a person on horse called a the picador stabs a mound of muscle on the fighting bull's neck with a long lance, this weakens the neck muscles. To protect the horse from the bull's horns, the animal wears a protective, padded covering called a peto.
Before 1930 the horses did not wear protection and the number of horses killed during a bullfight generally exceeded the number of bulls killed.
The second third of a bullfight is called the Tercio de Banderilla. In this part the three banderilleros attempts to plant two sharp barbed sticks called banderillas into the bull's shoulders. The anger and rage which these injuries cause help to reinvigorate the bull which could be distraught and dispirited after the injuries sustained in the first part.
The third part of a bullfight is called the Tercio de Muerte. In this part the bull is killed. The matador (killer) re-enters the ring alone with a smaller red cloth, or muleta, and a sword. The bull charges the matador and this is where the typical interplay with the bull takes place. When the bull is sufficiently tired the matador attempts to kill the bull by thrusting the sword into its heart.
If a matador has performed particularly well, the crowd may ask the president to give the matador an ear of the bull as an award.
The crowd communicates this approval by waving white handkerchiefs.
Very rarely, if a bull has fought extremely bravely it can be spared and allowed to return to the ranch.
Over the past three centuries 534 professional bullfighters have died in the ring.
A survey made by the Spanish newspaper El Pais suggested that only 37% of Spaniards were fans of bullfighting.
The parliament of the Spanish region of Catalonia voted in favor of a ban on bullfighting in 2009, which went into effect in 2012. It has been banned since 1991 in the Canary Islands.
The duration of a regular corrida de toros ranges from 1 hour 30 minutes and 2 hours 30 minutes.
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