Bullfight in Madrid begins in March and ends in October. Although Spain is famous for its bullfighting, I have never seen one since I detest what some people think is a way of entertainment. But what does a BULLFIGHT consist of??
In a bullfight, there are usually three bullfighters against 2 bulls each. And their turns are determined according to their date of "alternativa" (similar to a degree). It starts with the paseillo, where all those that perform directly take a parade before the public. This consists of the "alguacillos" mounted on horses to cross the plaza to address themselves to the Presidency and symbolically solicit the key to the "puerta de los toriles" (where the bulls are kept). Behind are the three bullfighters followed by the members of their team of three "banderilleros" (one who puts a stick in the bull's neck) and two picks (one on horseback with a pointed pole of 2 meters whose purpose is to prick the animal so it cannot raise its head when attacking the bullfighter). At the end of the cortege are the so called "mozos" and "mulas de arrastres" (who are in charge, once the bull is dead, to remove it from the plaza).
Once the key has been delivered and the cortege has left, the door keeping the bull is then opened. As the bull enters the plaza, the bullfight begins. The bullfighter will maintain a dialogue with the bull and at the same time fight against the animal to try to win it.
The bullfight is divided in three parts called "tercios" highlighted with the sound of a clarion. In the first part, the bullfighter uses his cape. Then the sound of a clarion signals the two picks to join, situating each one of them in the extreme of the plaza, but merely to bring that "luck".
In the second part, is what they call "suerte de banderillas" wherein the "banderilleros" (one who puts a stick in the bull's neck) inserts to the bull's neck with three pairs of "banderillas" (a barbed dart).
Then, the bullfighter ejecutes the "suerte suprema", wherein he will fight with the crutch instead of the cape, to finally, take the sword and kill the bull. This is the most difficult part of his task, since at these moments he should be able to get the bull to attack him, and just in the middle of this attack, he should find the moment to plunge the sword in the heart of the bull and kill it. This is the part when the bullfighter openly exposes his body before the bull. It is a fight that is considered to be a live and ephemeral art. In a matter of seconds, he should concentrate in hitting without fail a concrete point of the bull while it is in movement.
If the series of passes, as well as having killed the bull with one sword thrust, have transmitted to the public all the cumulus of positive sensations, the public awards him. The trophys are one or two ears of the bull that was killed, and as a maximum, the tail.
The public solicits the trophies from the president by moving symbolically their handkerchief, while the president of the plaza is the one who makes the final decision, whether to accede or not to the public petition. The highest honor to a bullfighter after an extraordinary performance is to leave the plaza lifted on the shoulders by a multitude.
The Associations for the protection of animals have tried to abolish this kind of spectacle but to no avail until now since bullfighting has become deeply rooted in Spanish culture.
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