BULLFIGHTING
by: Raul Rodriguez
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HISTORY
Bullfighting can be trace back to ancient days of Rome. These contests were developed by the Moors from North America in AD 711. The conquering Moors, mounted on highly trained horses, confronted, and killed the bulls. Bullfighting maintains strong support in its heartland Madrid. Bullfights were popular spectacles in ancient Rome. As bullfighting developed the men on foot, who by their capework aided the horsemen in posiotioning the bulls, began to take form. Today the bullfight is much the same as it has been since about 1726.
BULLFIGHTING
Bullfighting is a physical contest that involves a bullfighter or "matador" to subdue or kill a bull. Bull is bred for its aggression and is raised free range with little human contact. The Spanish people consider them art forms which are intimately linked with their country's history, art culture.
PLAZA DE TOROS
Bullfighting is held in bullrings, many who are historic. A Spanish bullfighting are "The Plaza de Toros". The oldest are the 1700s Spanish plaza of Sevilla. The largest bull ring is the Plaza Mexico which seats 48,000 people. The most outstanding plaza de toros are in Madrid, Seville, and Rhonda which are all located in Spain.
LAS VENTAS PLAZA IN MADRID
Is the largest bullfighting ring in Spain, located in Salamanca district. Makes it the third-largest bullfighting run the world. It's seating capacity of 23, 798. It is not only the center of the bullfighting world, but a point of high historical, cultural, and social interest.
Plaza de Toros de Valencia
Plaza de Toros La Monumental in Barcelona
Plaza de Toros de la Real Maestranza de Caballeria in Seville
MATADOR
In Spain, a bullfighter is called a matador. Matador is a performer in the activity of bullfighting. Spanish : Torero. He is the main performer and leader in a bullfighting. Matadors wear "traje de luces" or suit of lights. The suit of lights, consists of a short jacket, a waistcoat, and knee-length skin tight trousers of silk and satin, richly beaded and embroidered in gold, silver, or couloured silk.
CONTROVERSIAL
The practice of bullfighting is controbersial because of concerns of animal welfare, funding, and religion. Some countries see it as blood sports. In Spain, it is defined as an art form or cultural event. Bullfighting is illegal in most countries, but remain legal in most areas of Spain and Portugal, as well as in Hispanic American countries. The king of Spain himself has allegedly stated that the day the EU bans bullfighting is the day Spain leaves the EU.
FUN FACTS
-Bullfighting has an ancient history
-The bulls are specifically bred for bullfighting.
-Not all bulls are killed in the ring.
-Spain has bullfighting schools for children.
-There have been female bullfighter for over 100 years.
-Around a quarter of a million bulls are killed each year.
-The biggest bullring in the world is the Plaza Mexico City.