Tag Archives: Bullfights

The Taming of Young Bulls

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The Plaça de Toros d’Alcúdia is more often a venue for concerts by Lou Reed or Anegats, or other public renditions, than an arena for bullfights. Twice a year, however, six young bulls are brought to the Colosseu in Alcúdia for a bloody showdown. One such Corrida (bullfight) happened a week ago, last Sunday, on the occasion of the Festes de Sant Jaume. The Alcúdia bullring is situated in what used to be part of the Mediaeval fortifications, the so-called Bastió de Sant Ferran.

Bullfights in Mallorca seem to be on their way out. Not so long ago, there used to be half a dozen occasions when corridas were held at the Plaza de Toros in Palma but, now it’s down to one day a year or two. The same is true in Muro and the same, again in Inca. Felanitx for the last fifty years only ever had one day of bullfights per year, but this year will be the third year running without a Corrida or Novillada due to the deplorable state of the arena site and the implied repercussions for the safety of the spectators. A Novillada is a bullfight with youngish bulls, those younger than three years of age, as often used to be the case here in Mallorca.

There were a few dozen protesters outside of the bullring in Alcúdia last week trying to picket the spectators away from the cruel fight. I venture to say that there won’t be more than two days of bullfights per year in all of Mallorca, within the next ten years and, perhaps none whatsoever shortly after that. Bullfights are banned in Catalunya from 2012 already. Soon, you will have to go to Andalucía, Pamplona or Madrid to watch a decent Novillada, or even Mexico or Chile soon after that.

The next bullfight event in Alcúdia will be held in two weeks time on August 15th at the occasion of the Festes de La Mare de Déu d’Agost. If toros take your fancy, book your seats soon, Sol or Sombra.

The photo was borrowed from the Internet, courtesy of diariodemallorca.es and the photographer, Miguel Garau.

Muchas gracias.

The Rainbow Toro Show

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The advertising hoardings of black toros (bulls) have added to the Spanish landscape since the Nineteen-fifties, when bulls first appeared in large, cut-out silhouettes promoting the famous Spanish Brandy, Veterano. Then, the Osborne spirits company erected large images of bulls in black with the maker’s name, as advertising boards on sites near to major roads throughout Spain. The bull is, by some, regarded as a semi-official national symbol of Spain. The Osborne bull can been seen looming on hillsides all over Spain. When Spain outlawed billboards on national roads in the early 1990′s, the bulls had to be taken down. Many Spaniards protested, as they had become endeared to them. The original bull was smaller and of a slightly different design. It got bigger as publicity was prohibited within 150 meters of a main road. The bulls now have a height of 14 m. There are said to be around 70 of these giants placed throughout the country. You might have seen one yourself, perhaps the only one in Mallorca, between Algaida and Montuïri.

In Mallorca, as in Catalunya, the Osborne bull is not as welcome as in other parts of Spain. The Mallorcan cut-out toro often suffers from protesting graffiti (see my earlier blog entry). A couple of days ago, the billboard was defaced again but, this time in a cheerful manner. Now the black bull appears in the colours of the rainbow (see photo). Even though this colour spectrum is usually attributed to the Gay Pride movement, it is widely speculated that the latest toro misdeed was in fact carried out by the Spanish anti-bullfight movement who are known to have converged in Mallorca during the last few days.

Whatever you might think about bullfights, Osborne bulls, anti-bullfight protesters or the gay scene, the rainbow coloured toro between Algaida and Montuïri adds a bit of colour to the landscape. One has to applaud the creative impetus of the culprits.

The photo was taken near Algaida, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: April 10th, 2011. The time was 11:21:01.

The Final Bullfight?

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Yesterday, the autonomous Parlament de Catalunya in Barcelona approved with 68 against 55 votes (and 9 abstentions) a move to disallow bullfights. The new law will come into effect from 2012 and will only be valid in Cataluña. After the Canary Islands, Cataluña is now the second province in Spain that has declared an end to corridas, bullfights and novilladas. The hearts of Spanish bullfights and bull runs (Madrid, Andalucía and Pamplona) will not be affected by the new legislation.

In my opinion, the new ruling is not really only a vote taken in favour of the toros in question, protecting animals rights. Catalunya has never really been the greatest of fans of tauromania and its related emotions. In Cataluña, it is felt that bullfights are really a passion of centrist Spain and were imposed by Madrid on a culture that sees itself rather represented by the donkey, and not the bull. The ruling has to be seen in the light of the Catalonian constitution that only a week ago was partially rebuffed by the Supreme Court in Madrid. The Barcelona ruling might have been a message to the Spanish nation that Cataluña wants to do things their own way and not always follow the lead from Madrid, sometimes even in an independent spirit.

In the long run, the Catalonian ruling may have repercussions here in the Baleares as well. I would guess, however, that here such a ruling might still be a few years away but, it will come sooner or later.

The Mallorcan town of Inca will stage a bullfight next Sunday, August 1st, at 18h30. Toreros will be Juan Serrano ‘El Finito de Córdoba‘, Manuel Díaz ‘El Cordobés‘ and Miguel Abellán. The occasion is the Fiestas de San Abdon y San Senén. The date will be the centennial anniversary of the inauguration of the Plaza de Toros de Inca (see photo below). Tickets are on sale from 30 € to 45 € (sol) and from 40 € to 95 € (sombra). I expect that there will be some anti-bullfight demonstrations, as well.

The photo (top) was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: July 20th, 2010. The time was 10:29:07. The photo (bottom) was borrowed from the Internet. Thanks are due to diariodemallorca.es.

Muchas gracias.

The Corrida In Muro

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The pueblo of Muro (Mallorca) is in the middle of celebrating its Festa de Sant Joan. Or rather, has been celebrating. Yesterday was the last day of this year’s activities. Last Sunday, a bullfight was supposed to be held, with six bulls and three toreros (Manuel Diaz ‘El Cordobés‘, Miguel Abellán and Cayetano Rivera Ordóñez). The corrida had to be cancelled, though, due to some unseemingly heavy rain. The spectacle has been re-scheduled for tomorrow, June 27th, at 18h30. Tickets sold for last Sunday’s bullfight will be valid tomorrow night. ‘El Cordobés’ and Miguel Abellán will be there, whereas Cayetano Rivera had previous commitments in Algeciras and will be replaced by a female bullfighter, Noelia Mota. Tickets are 35 € (sol) and 45 € (sombra).

Last Sunday, an anti-bullfight demonstration was held outside the Plaza de Toros in Muro, with some 200 protesters airing their opposition to bullfights in Spain. I expect there will be another manifestación, as it is called here in Mallorca, tomorrow afternoon. If the weather holds, you could either watch the bullfights in Muro, or join the protesters outside.

The photo (top) was taken in Muro, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: June 25th, 2010. The time was 15:26:32. The photo (bottom) was borrowed from the Internet, courtesy of diariodemallorca.es.

Muchas gracias.

The Coso de Felanitx

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cosos

The Festes de Sant Agustí in Felanitx are in full swing. In fact, today is the main day, the saint’s day.

People not living in Felanitx might think that the main purpose of the Felanitx festivities are the novillas (bullfights) in the Felanitx Macarena (bullring). But, far from it.

Sant Agustí is the day of the penyas in Felanitx. The original Felanitx penya is the Penya El Coso de Felanitx, going back to the Eighties of last century. I understand that this penya was originally founded as an outlet to criticise or otherwise disapprove of the authorities such as politicians and the local administration. El Coso was also set up to celebrate the art of bullfighting.

The symbol of El Coso is Sa Quica, traditionally a live domestic cock, but in recent years the cock was replaced by a plastic replica, tied to a long pole.

In 2009, the traditional bullfights were not authorised. Instead, a live rooster was used again, in defiance of the by-law, albeit a somewhat bewildered, if timid cock. Sa Quica was held in a small cage placed on a velvet cushion and handled with great care. Let’s see what else El Coso have up their sleeves today to make up for the bulls that aren’t.

sa_quica

Other penyas have sprung up in Felanitx, too, over the years. Things have changed; not everybody is in favour of the bullfights any more and not every penya wants to criticise the authorities. Some penyas just want to have some fun and be out all day partying on their day off.

Without any doubt, the biggest penya by far is still the one of the Es Coso, even today. The autoridades are still there, here in Felanitx, in Mallorca and in Madrid, politicians that need to be reminded of the citizens’ considerations and welfare. And Felanitx still feels Mallorquín first, and Spanish only much later.

The photo (top) was chosen from my archive. It was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: August 28th, 2007. The time was 08:41:34. The photo (bottom) was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: August 28th, 2009. The time was 07:59:23.

No More Bullfights In Felanitx?

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macarena

It would appear that the once-a-year bullfights in Felanitx, on the occasion of the annual Sant Agustí festivities, will not be happening this year, or possibly ever again.

The Felanitx Macarena or Plaza de Toros is an archaic bullring dating from 1914. The 95-year-old installations may have been modernised once, perhaps fifty years ago, but frankly, the whole setup does not seem to be up to scratch. Whilst the ring is a photographer’s dream scenario in terms of it being like a time capsule, and an historian’s delight as an insight as to how mankind lived some fifty or a hundred years ago in this Mallorcan town, contemporary safety standards seem to be lacking in a big way in Felanitx’s coliseo, especially when the combination of blood sports with a consumption of large amounts of alcohol evokes concerns for health and safety.

It appears that the Consell de Mallorca imposed some severe safety measures upon the organizers of the corridas in Felanitx, a company called Grupo Balañà. The licence to hold this year’s event on August 28th has been withheld by the Island Council pending the implementation of the requested improvements. The proprietors have asked the Felanitx townhall for a contribution towards the hefty sum needed to implant the necessary safety means. The batle of Felanitx (the mayor) has declined any extra help, citing La Crisis. The citizens of Felanitx, according to him, have more pressing woes at these times of rising unemployment than bullfights. He does not want to be seen as wasting taxpayers’ money on an event that occurs for only one day every year, and for only two hours at that.

Seeing it this way, the financial meltdown may have some positive side effects, after all. The young bulls will rejoice, and the Plataforma Antitaurina de Felanitx must be delighted. Let’s see what the citizens of Felanitx will say. Many Felanitxers seem to be sadened by the news, in particular, El Coso and other penyas.

The photo was chosen from my archive. It was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Spain. The date: August 28th, 2008. The time was 13:14:25.

Sant Joan And The Bulls

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corrida_muro

Here’s the good news. The festes de Sant Joan are about to happen. In Spain, Sant Joan (also San Juan, or St. John the Baptist) is a traditional midsummer festivity in honour of this saint to coincide with the Summer Solstice celebrations. The Summer Solstice this year falls on June 21st.

Now the not so good news, if you are an animal lover. The pueblo of Muro in Mallorca will celebrate Sant Joan by putting on a Corrida de Toros (bullfighting) at their local Plaza de Toros next Sunday, June 21st, at 18h30. Three toreros (one of them a lefthanded one) will enter the bull ring one after another to fight a total of six bulls. Entry admission is advertised as being at precios muy populares. What that means I do not know but last year tickets were 35 € for seats in the sun and 45 € for seats in the shade.

The photo was taken in Felanitx, Mallorca, Baleares, Spain. The date: June 10th, 2009. The time was 10:57:24.