Bullfighting is the discipline that consists of maintaining a kind of contest with the bull. A man, on foot or on horseback, provokes the animal to enrage it and then demonstrates his skill by dodging its attacks. In general, the practice culminates with the slaughter of the bull.
Many consider bullfighting to be an art, although others denounce the practice for the cruelty it involves to animals. The rituals and events related to bullfighting are very old, dating back to prehistory. Bullfighting can be understood as the entire culture that develops around the activity and that includes typical clothing, the use of certain instruments or weapons, livestock, etc.
Since its prehistoric origins, bullfighting has been associated with bravery: the man demonstrates his bravery by facing the bull. Currently, the practice is also linked to aesthetic issues, since the movements made by the matador are taken into account. Bullfighting, especially in recent decades, has managed to become a benchmark in the country and even one of its attractions. Thus, for example, there were famous people who came to Spain and their main objective was to see the bullfights because they were excited. We refer to celebrities like Ernest Hemingway or Ava Gardner. In many cases, these famous people wanted to meet the bullfighters of the moment, but the list of bullfighters throughout history is vast. However, among those who have achieved greater success and relevance are Manolete, Paquirri, José Tomás, Juan Belmonte, Antonio Bienvenida, Luis Miguel Dominguín, Paco Camino, Joselito el Gallo… Many of them saw how their descendants followed in their footsteps. This is the case of Paquirri, whose two eldest sons are also bullfighters: Francisco Rivera and Cayetano Rivera, also grandchildren of the mother of fellow bullfighter Antonio Ordoñez. Today, bullfighting is developed through the activity known as bullfighting. Very popular in Spain, bullfights take place in a specific place (called the bullring) and involve the participation of several people, the most important being the bullfighter in the ceremony. At the end of the run, the animal dies. Due to its characteristics, there is an important worldwide movement that opposes bullfighting and has even managed to ban it in several regions. Supporters of bullfighting, for their part, guarantee that the treatment received by the bull is not so cruel and argue that the practice allows the survival of the breed known as the brave bull. Specifically, those who are in favor of what, due to reminiscences of the past, in Spain is known as a “national holiday” in many sectors, also affirm that it is a face-to-face duel, man versus animal. In addition, they add that they love the bull and that he was born precisely to end his life in a ring.
However, as we have already mentioned, there are many people and groups that are against bullfighting, considering it a cruel murder of animals. This explains precisely why in recent years the number of Spanish citizens who support the PACMA Party, the Animal Party, which defines itself as a “defender of animal rights, the environment and social justice” has increased. ”.
