By Daniel Villar, Marcos Rocha, Eva Maestre and Silvia Arranz
By Daniel Villar, Marcos Rocha, Eva Maestre and Silvia Arranz
Pamplona is a city of Roman origin, founded by Pompeyo, from where it has its name. The Moors occupied it in the7 th century , but they were expelled with the help of Charlemagne who destroyed his rearguard in 778 In the times of Philip II, the citadel was built again. It s festivals are celebrated in Pamplona from the 6th until the 14 th of July.
With his novel prize of literature, Hemingway made these festivals famous everywhere. His description of his arrival in Pamplona, the running of the bulls and the bullfights are splendid. There are processions and bullfights in Pamplona, but the most spectacular thing to be seen is the running of the bulls that take place at 8 oclock every day.
The bulls, that must go to the bull-ring in the afternoon, go at full speed trough the streets of City, always following a fixed itinerary eight meters long.
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Teenagers from everywhere, but most of them from Plamplona, go to meet them and run in front of the bulls. They always dress in white shirts and trousers wearing red caps, scarves and belts. Everybody in Spain follows this show, full of passion and always broadcast in all TV channels Bullfights: It is the ritual sacrifice of the bull. According to the well Known poet, Federico Garcia Lorca, the bullfight "is a religious drama" and
Hemingway wrote a similar thing in the weekly newspaper The Toronto Star: " Bullfight is not a sport, it is a tragedy"
There are several cultures that consider the bull as a magical and sacred animal. For example, the Celts have a legend were it is said that they asked " the old and strange beings, for an animal, dark like night, strong like the Earth, powerful like the fire, sharp like the wind and slender like the soul of the planet " It was like this that this beautiful animal which had the character of a god appeared on Earth. In Egypt we find the bull in the god Apis; he was from Argos but he emigrated to Egypt where he was called Osiris and later on he married Isis We also find the bull (half man, half animal) in the History of Crete, where it can be seen on its paintings.
In the Middle Ages, fighting the bull was a sport practised only by the nobility on horseback. In the 18 th century, it became a popular show and it began to be practised on foot. The rules of bullfighting date back to the 18 th and 19 th centuryes. Bullfighting: It used to begin at 5 oclock but not any more. Now, because of the hot wether perhaps, it starts at 7 oclock in summer and earlier the rest of the year.
There are always turee bullfighters who are assigned three four years old bulls of 450 Kgs each one, to be fought The "fiesta" or show starts with a tipical Spanish music called "pasodoble" First of all there is the opening parade of the tree bullfighters, accompanied by their own teams (Who assist the "matadors" in the bullring) The bullfighters wear bullfighters costumes tight - fitting and very well embroidered. They are alwais followed by their team . In front of them you can seee two "alguaciles" (a kind of bullring constables), dressed with typical costumes from the 17 th century and with the keys of the bullring. They give them to the President of the "fiesta". Fighting each bull lasts tree rounds, and each of these rounds is marked with the sound of a bugle.
One of the main aspects is to realise how the bullfighter consolidates his authority over the animal. The bullfighter makes passes using his cape and his assistants help him drawing the bull towards the centre of the bullring. The bullfighther studies the behaviour of the bull with different passes called "vernicas" After this comes the horsebreaker (called picadores) always on horseback. He waits for the bull to charge against him. He will prick it testing its bravery. During the second part, the "banderrillas" ( some specialised men from the assistant team) play an important part they stick the "banderillas" in the bull. These are a kind of stick with harpoons at the very end. Ten have to avoid the bull Finally these is the third part of the show, it goes with a piece of red material called "muleta" and a little bit smaller than the cape, and with a wooden stick attached to it. The bullfighter greets tre President and he dedicates the bull to the audience or to a special person. Then, holding the "muleta" and having a sword in his right hand, he attracts the bull towards him in a handsome and brave way. It is just when the bull is fascinated by the cape and at the same time motionless, that the bullfighter kills him.
Hugh Thomas, who was ambassador in Spain for a long time, wrote somsthing about the bullfighting: " The bullfighting is a sort of ballet with traditiona figures; it requires a great deal of skill and charm, but above all, it is a demonstration of virility and courage".
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Man has to control the bull and his own fear as well. In spite of the cruelty, bullfightings are still very popular. Some people believe they should be eliminated while others consider them part of our cultural heritage and they feel very proud.
Chupinazo Encierros
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Goya dessin
