Yesterday evening I attended my very first corrida de toros, or bull fight. A bullfight consists of three bull fighters taking turns as they face a total of six bulls. Thanks to the kind explanations of a Spanish man sitting with me, I now understand that a bull fight is a lot more complex than I previously thought. To start, there are six bulls intended to fight, and two extras. Just before a bull is first released, it will have a divisa, or a small dagger with ribbons bearing the ranch from which it comes’ colors, stabbed between it’s shoulders.

When the bull enters the arena, there is a brief period during which assistant bull fighters will wave capetas, or larger more flimsy capes, to test that the bull is in good condition to fight. If the bull is not in good condition, it can only be exchanged for one of the two extra bulls before any more damage is done to it. Once they know the bull is in good condition, two picadores mounted on horseback are announced by a trumpet fanfare and enter the ring. Each man will stab the bull once with a lance.

The next phase of the bullfight is with three banderilleros, who challenge the bull holding banderillos, or long metal hooks decorated with colored ribbon that are stuck into the bulls shoulders to weaken it’s neck muscles. Each banderillero will place two hooks into the bulls shoulders, totaling six. At this point the actual bull fighter will enter the arena and begin the fight. After a demonstration of bravery and skill, as well as strength and speed on behalf of the bull, the bull fighter will be handed a long sword which he will stab between the shoulders of the bull and down through the heart. The show is meant to demonstrate the strength and dignity of the bull, and as such if the bull fighter has to try more than once to deliver the final blow, the fight is considered poorly executed.

The corrida I attended consisted of the bulls from the ranch “El Ventorrillo” from Yébanes, Toledo.

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