Matadors and Bull Fighting

Because they are real, moving, and beautiful. You can go watch the same play or movie 3000 times, and know exactly what will happen, and that the hero will win in the end.

With bullfighting, you never know what's going to happen. The bull may kill the bullfighter, or even, although rarely, be allowed to leave the arena alive. From second to second you never know whether the bullfighter is going to live or die, whether he will perform beautifully, or badly, make you cry, or make you laugh.

That is why people love bullfighting. It's not a gambling venue, it's a tragedy, sometimes on level with great works such as hamlet, and it's playing out live right in front of your eyes.

^to be honest i don't think that's a good reason to love it, getting a thrill out of someones death. why would you love it?, so you would love seeing a bull or a human get killed, you'd get some kind of sick thrill out of it?. and no you don't say of course they are real and moving just like you ITS CALLED BEEING ALIVE AND HAVING FEELINGS., so why would you want to destroy/kill something beautiful and living for FUN. i suggest anyone who loves bullfighting finds a new hobby, a normal one, like knitting,or get a pet, like a dog, but DONT kill it..., bullfighting is sick, sad: like have nowt better to do and feel the need to prove you have the power to kill a bull, wow get over yourselves its cruel and heartless, NO animal deserves to suffer a long painfull death. How would you like it. ehh fancy gettin stabbed in the back. and ye the guy (the bullfighter) is risking his life and i don't know why you'd wanna do that to be honest but that's his choice, but the bull should have rights too, DID THE BULL SAY IT WANTED TO BE STABBED IN THE BACK...NO, so i think this "sport" should stop until the bulls say themselfs 'go on and torture me'.. What makes you laugh about it honestly.? HAHAHAHAHAHAH DEATH HOW FUNNY! Sort it out.

It can symbolize the triumph of good over evil, of brains over brawn or it can simply be a pass time for a Sunday afternoon with friends and symbolize nothing.

Bull fighting takes place in an arena made specifically for bull fighting. It is a dirt covered flore with circular arena seating. The arena floor for the fighting itself is usually the same size as a football field but sometimes bigger.

Bullfights are held in Spain, Mexico, Portugal, France and in several countries in Central and South America.

A large heavy rose colored cape - a capote
A smaller, lighter cape - the muleta
A sword - estoque
In addition, banderillas (decorated barbed sticks) and the picador's lance.
These are the main pieces of 'equipment' used in a bullfight.

Bullfighting only occurred in colonial Cuba and in rare occasions after that. Bullfighting has been outlawed in Cuba.

If the performance of the matador was good and the kill was done properly and skillfully, the audience will applaud but there is no traditional cheer such as 'ole' during the actual faena (performance). They may also wave white handkerchiefs or napkins to petition the presidente to awards and ear, two ears, tail or even a tail.

Three famous bull fighters are Manolete, Pedro Ramirez Martinez, and Antonio Ordonez.

Two famous bull fighters include: José Marrero from Cuba and Alejandro Amaya from Mexico. Also, Conchita Cintron from Peru is another well known bull fighter.

Even with its inherent cruelty, bullfighting is still popular in Spain and Mexico. Some famous bullfighters include Curro Romero, Carlos Arruza, and Juan Belmonte.

Enrique Ponce, El Fandi and Ivan Fandino.

Those that consider bullfights inhumane are usually those who have never attended a bullfight nor have they studied the spectacle. It is simply inhumane to these people because it is a public spectacle. Let's compare the life of a fighting bull to that of a steer raised for beef. The fighting bull remains with its mother until one year of age. At that time it is released into a huge, lush pasture where it matures with little human contact until it is 4-6 years old. At that age it may be sold to a bullring and is taken in a special crate or truck. In the bullring it undergoes picing and banderillas. Yes, it is somewhat painful but the bull, by this time, is so pumped up on adrenaline that the pain is barely noticed. Within 15 minutes the bull has died.

A steer is taken from its mother when it is weened and castrated. This is done with nothing to dull the pain. I have witnessed it and it is painful to even watch. The vet cuts the end off of the scrotum, grabs the testicles and rips them out of the young animal. The eyes of the animal will roll back in pain and it will sometimes scream. The animal continues to be in severe pain for several days or weeks. The animal eventually ends up at 1-2 years of age in a filthy and crowded feed lot where it is fattened up for a few months before it is loaded onto a crowded truck and hauled to a slaughter house. There it will be killed, either with a pneumatic rod driven through the skull or by electrocution.

Which of these two examples is less humane? Of course, we do not know or see the source of our prime steaks or Big Macs so are oblivious as to the torture that animal went through so we could enjoy our red meat. Everything was hidden from us. If it can't be seen, our minds ignore it. Fighting bulls die a public execution and that is why people get upset. Let these fine folks follow a calf raised for the dinner table from birth to slaughter and they may have a different opinion of the bullfight.

Bullfighting is an art form and not a sport.

I assume they sell the meat, but maybe they do something else with the bodies. Animal bodies are full of resources; the fats, oils, skin, hooves, and even teeth can be made profitable in some way.

The paseo is the opening procession or parade

Bulls don't get paid you silly goose. Their owners get paid. Got any more brain-busters. have fun. stay safe.

The matador uses a cape, either the capote or muleta, as a lure and decoy to attract the bull. The bull has never before encountered a man on foot and assumes the cape is part of the man and charges at its motion. However, the bull quickly learns that he is being deceived and if the animal is not killed within a short time, the matador will be in serious trouble.

If a matador is gored and unable to continue, he is taken to the infirmary. The bull may then be killed by another matador or it may be returned to the pens under the stands and butchered there.

Yes, it is popular in the Southern part of the country near the Basque zone. Bayonne and Aquitaine fall into this zone.

There are 3 acts in a bullfight, not 6:

Each fight consists of three parts:

1.) Terceo de puyas

2.) Terceo de banderillas

3.) Terceo de muerte

In Spain you must be at least 16 years of age to fight bulls. There are no age restrictions in Mexico.

Bullfighting is considered an art form, not a sport. Bullfights are held in Spain, Mexico, France, Portugal, and several countries in Central and South America.

The largest in the world is the Plaza Mexico in Mexico City that seats over 41,000 people.

The time would depend upon the particular bullring or season of the year. Some bullrings have night lighting so can hold fights after dark. However, most fights start about 4:00 in the afternoon.

It is believed that a form of bullfighting was introduced to Spain during the reign of Roman Emperor Claudius nearly 2000 years ago. Over the centuries the practice evolved into what we know today. When the Spanish conquered and colonized an area they introduced the spectacle, especially in parts of the Americas.

Soccer is the most popular sport in Mexico, followed by baseball. Bullfighting is still somewhat popular in some regions and cities, such as Guanajuato, Puebla or Queretaro. However, this "sport" has been continuously criticized due to obvious animal cruelty, and the interest of the public has diminished accordingly.

Everyone will have a different opinion but most would say that Juan Belmonte was one of the greatest, if not the greatest, matador in history. Others might say Manolete, Dominguin, Antonio Ordonez, Carlos Arruza or even El Cordobes or another.

Killing the bull has been outlawed in some countries for its cruelty, but ironically, the most hurtful parts of the fight(The placing of the bandarillas and the stab with the lance, are still part of the fight. In most countries, the bull is killed by the matador.

The reason why the bull is killed in the arena is because the entire match plays out much like a classical tragedy. There are two adversaries. One of them, the man, has the skills and knows what's going on, while the bull has the strength, and although it doesn't know what's going on, is a very fast learner.

That's part of the reason why a bullfight may never take more than 25 minutes. If it does, the bull is taken out and killed like ordinary cattle.

Anyway, the bull can kill the man, and the man can kill the bull. The man is required to go through the three stages of the fight before he can kill the bull, while the bull can kill him at anytime. If the bull wasn't killed by the matador in the end, it would be like if Romeo and Juliet ended BEFORE the suicide; there would be no resolution to the conflict.

Taleguilla - the close-fitting tights which extend from the waist to underneath the knee worn by toreros.