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The bullfighting events for the Bravehearts

03 Jan 2025

Before the days of modern sport, there were times when man lived closer to nature and played with the animals that they raised. Some of the traditions have survived till date or taken from one part of the world to another and bullfighting is one of them. It was popular in ancient Rome, but in Europe, this sport is visible only in Spain, Portugal, and the South of France. The Spanish took the sport with them to Latin America, where you will find bullfighting arenas in Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, and Ecuador. It was popular in other countries too like Colombia and Uruguay, but it has been banned there over different centuries. Yes, there have been concerns from animal rights activists but the sport is still justified to show the relationship between the man and the beast.

Not everyone’s cup of tea

You may think that this is a brutal sport, but it comes in many forms, having evolved differently in different nations. While in some types of bullfighting, the animals will suffer physical pain, you will also be worried about the safety of the humans who will be participating in these. Some audiences watching these games live or on their TV sets, in Spain, some of these events are telecast live on TV, will be thrilled with the anticipation of what is to come. They will also be watching how clever all the participants including the bulls are and whether they are fighting out of rage or using their wits to outdo the opponents. Here we list some destinations, where you can watch the sport and you can choose one according to the type of bullfighting you are interested in.

Bullfighting the Spanish way

The sport is part of the tradition in many cities like the capital Madrid and you can watch the bull runs in cities like Pamplona which lead the bulls to the bull ring. Here matadors dressed in traditional costumes, including hats that nobody wears nowadays will face them and try to control them before the animal is killed. This sport will seem violent to most and the matadors are expected to give the animal a peaceful death. The matadors use sticks with metal tops and swords for this. Here you will see a man surrounded by a crowd facing a large animal to see who wins. You will be able to see more bullfights here in the warmer months than in the colder months. You can enjoy these at arenas in Illescas, Sevilla, and Valencia too, among other cities.

Bullfighting on horses in Portugal

In Portugal, you will witness bullfighting of a different kind with matadors mounted on horses as they try to control the bull before a team of 8 matadors comes to control and subdue it. In most parts of the country, the bull is not killed so you will find this type of bullfighting to be much less violent than that in its Iberian neighbor. Though again you will find all participants including the horses in costumes that will remind you that this is a traditional sport. The biggest bullring in the country is in Lisbon the capital and the bullfighting season continues from spring to the end of summer.

Bullfighting in France in Roman arenas

You will find bullfighting competitions in southern provinces of France, both along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, traditionally known to raise herds of cattle. Here, the game is different with 2 forms, one where an ornament is attached to the horns of the bull and the aim is to grab it as safely as possible while in the other a lengthy rope is attached to a cow, yes a cow and not a bull, and the players try to dodge it and if possible leap over it. The more of these you do and the sooner you do this, you win. You can expect to watch the games in arenas associated with the gladiators millenniums ago in Nimes and Arles, along with some modern ones in Bayonne and other cities. The Camargue breed of cattle is bred for the sport here.

The Cowboys are live in Mexico

You will find bullfighting arenas in almost all nations that were once part of the Spanish empire in Latin America, though in some these will not be in use. The biggest bullfight arena is in Mexico and you will find Spanish-style bullfighting rings in most major cities of this country. In different cities, there will be different months in which you will be able to witness the sport, and in a way, it is a reminder of the legacy that the colonists left behind, yet the locals enjoy it with their history of cowboy lifestyles.

Bullfights Japanese way in Okinawa

Here instead of the man being pitted against the bull, you will find one bull facing another with crowds to cheer them on. The rules are strict and backing down even for a second will be regarded as a defeat. These games were organized during the days of the old dynasties when the public got something to be entertained. Now families come with their young ones, who are admitted free of cost to the stadium in Uruma City. You can even hear the history of the sport and the stadium from those who maintain it.

Conclusion

If you live in a city and want to see how the people in the ancient days lived you can come to watch bullfights, examples of how difficult and brutal life could be in those days. Here we have suggested some destinations where you can come close to what some consider action of a different kind.

By FlightsChannel Team
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