Client: Michael Lee
Copyright 2008 Michael Lee
Bullfighting in Murcia: The History and the Tradition
Bullfighting is the oldest national sport in Murcia and anywhere else in Spain. To some it is the best loved national past time, to others it invites huge controversy. The battle between supporters and the opposed yields as much attention and passion as the sport itself does. People either love it or they hate it. There doesn�t seem to be any middle ground.
Supporters of bullfighting revere it is an art form. It is regarded as an intensely spiritual experience that represents the battle between man and nature and man and himself. Those who enjoy the event see it as an enjoyable experience on a day out.
The opposed condemn the practice as an abomination that turns a civilized society into nothing but a bunch of barbarians. Those who despise the practice believe it is animal cruelty at its most cruel. They truly believe it should be banned all over the world.
Controversy surrounding bullfighting does not end with the locals and other interested parties around the world. The Spanish royal family is divided in their beliefs as well. The queen despises the sport and refuses to be present or have any part of the events. The king is seen on occasion officiating in the royal box as a part of his duties. The princess is often seen accompanying her father during the fights in the presiding box. Other times she attends the fights privately in the general seating areas.
The Facts:
Whether you love or hate bullfighting, it exists in many countries in the world and for some it is a way of life and a celebrated tradition. Parts of Spain have banned bullfighting since about 2004. But, many others believe it is an age-old and time-honored tradition that should continue.
Bullfighting roots can be traced to prehistoric times when bulls were worshipped and sacrificed. Over 4,000 years ago Crete�s athletes were depicted in art leaping over the backs of charging bulls. In Spain, during the same time period, early settlers sacrificed bulls to honor their gods. One of the first actual bull fights occurred in the eleventh century.
In medieval times the Spanish aristocrats began bull jousting on horseback. The peasants started the man on foot versus bull tradition about the same time, which is the way it is still done today. Eighteenth century formal bullfighting rings became an integral part of Spanish culture and developed into the bull fighting traditions that still exist today.
In the beginning of the twentieth century, American author Ernest Hemingway revered and immortalized bullfighting and brought it into the homes of the world through his writing. Hemingway saw bullfighting as man�s ultimate challenge. For many of his readers, this became their way of thinking as well. Every city and nearly every town throughout Spain is home to a bullfighting ring. The bull fight is the focus of hundreds of national and local fiestas which occur annually.
The never-ending battles between supporters and the opposed have resulted in many bull rings now retaining a local vet during the fights. When the vet determines that the bull has suffered enough, he signals the officials who then signal the matador to bring the fight to an end. This is the bull fighting equivalent to the vets who monitor rodeos all over the world today. In most cases, the fans are unaware that such monitoring practices are taking place. Nor, do they care as long as they witness a good show for their money before the fight is stopped.
Bullfighting attracts audiences from all walks of life and from all over the world. Some come for the tradition and some for the spectacle. To honor centuries of custom and tradition, bullfighting continues to be a time-honored practice in Murcia and all over Spain.