| One of Spain's oft discussed traditions in other parts | | | | taunt the bull and make it charge. Picadors armed |
| of the world is Bullfighting, a cultural tradition that is in | | | | with barbed spears weaken the bull by driving their |
| part art, costume, performance and drama, and part | | | | weapons into him. The Matador then enters the |
| a controversial animal killing sport. | | | | arena with a red cape, and through a combination of |
| Past To Present | | | | grace, nimbleness, athletic ability and intelligence spurs |
| Bullfighting has been a part of Spanish culture for | | | | the bull to charge, dodging his advances and showing |
| thousands of years and draws huge crowds of | | | | his skill to the crowd. When this has been done and |
| several thousand every week to stadiums to watch | | | | the bull has been weakened, the Matador uses a |
| the matadors and toredors engaged in a battle of | | | | short sword plunged between the bull's shoulder |
| wits with a bull. | | | | blades to strike the death blow. There is much |
| Bullfighting was once conducted on horseback by | | | | adulation and celebration from the audience. |
| members of the aristocracy but in the early part of | | | | Reservations and Support |
| 16th Century, the King of Spain banned the upper | | | | In the opinion of Animal rights campaigners, |
| class from involvement in the sport. It was | | | | Bullfighting is cruel and barbaric and causes |
| subsequently adopted as a sport by the peasants, | | | | unnecessary stress and pain to the animal. Killing for |
| who without the means to employ horses, fought on | | | | sport rather than out of need, they feel is |
| foot instead, as the bullfighters of the current day | | | | unacceptable. Though the death blow is quite quick, |
| do. | | | | the injuries that the bull suffers during the fight can |
| Popular support has dwindled in recent years | | | | cause terrible and sustained pain. |
| however and events are no longer as widespread. | | | | However the bull's carcass does not go waste, it is |
| Animal Rights campaigners are vocally against the | | | | butchered and eaten, ensuring that there is no waste |
| tradition and the international sentiment is not | | | | of life. Some supporters view the bull's struggle as a |
| generally one of support. | | | | noble way to die, especially taking into account the |
| Bullfighting may be watched at live events every | | | | inhuman conditions in many abattoirs employed in |
| summer in Andalucia and Madrid, but the local | | | | meat production. |
| authorities of Barcelona have recently voted against | | | | Having read arguments for and against bull fighting |
| allowing the city to play host to bull fights. | | | | and gathered information on what it actually involves, |
| Bullfighting Events | | | | you may now be in a better position to make the |
| These usually proceed as follows: When the bull is | | | | choice as to whether to attend a bullfight during your |
| released into the arena, a coloured cape is used to | | | | Spanish holiday or not. |