Corrida in Spain: the sport and show of Bull Fighting, beloved by Picasso

Bull Fight
Originally uploaded by minianna.com

Spain has always been famous for its bull-fights, as have other countries all over the world, says idealspain.com.

In Spain the bullfight is called the Fiesta Nacional ( national Sport). There are few places in Spain where a bull-ring can't be found within a short drive. It is the most common thing associated with Spain, and rightly so for its origins date back to 711AD when the first bullfight (corrida) took place in honour of the crowning of King Alfons VIII.

Every week, all over Spain, many thousands of Spaniards flock to the nearest bullring, but not all Spaniards agree with the sport, or like it. Bullfighting has now been banned in Catalunya and it is likely that other regions will follow suit. It has been reported that this ban will result in thousands of jobs being lost and large sums of compensation being paid to bull breeders.

It is reported that each year[2009], within Spain, 24,000 bulls are killed in front of an audience of 30 million people. The bullfighting season runs from March to October. Bullfighting was originally done on horseback and was a sport reserved for the aristocracy.

Bullfighting is also done on horseback. It's an excellent display of horsemanship yet the outcome is just the same.

This changed when Felipe V prohibited the nobles from practicing the sport as he felt it was a bad example for the public's education. From then on the commoners took on the sport, facing the bulls unarmed, dodging and taunting the bull then eventually placing small spears into the bull, the origin of the banderillas of today's bullfights.

Around 1724 the sport was transformed from horseback to foot. The bullfight is literally a dance with death. The bullfighter has to carefully examine and study the movements and strengths of the bull. One wrong move and he will end up gored or seriously injured.

It is certain though that at the end of the show, the bull will die, yes, it is literally a show. The bullfighter has to demonstrate his skills to the audience in a dramatic and enthusiastic way. If he makes a good job of it and gets a good round of applause at the end he could be bestowed the ultimate honour by being presented with one of the bull's ears or its tail. If he has been really good he may even be carried round the arena.

One variation of the traditional bullfight is bull-running where bulls are released into the streets and masses of participants do their best to avoid them and stay alive. Pamplona is the best place to see this.