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Bullfighting - Portugal
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Portuguese-style bullfights are called touradas or corridas de touros, and it is distinguished by the fact that the main bullfighter 'fights' the bull on a horse. It should not be confused with the rejoneo, with is a similar horse bullfight performed in other countries, such as Spain.
In a typical tourada - where the bull’s horns have been filed down and covered with a leather cup to protect the horse - six bulls are used. The ‘show’ is composed by two main parts.
In the first part (the most important part) a cavaleiro - a rider dressed in a traditional 18th century costume – 'fights' the bull from a horse by making the bull run and chase the horse and by stabbing different types of weapons in the bull’s back.
In a typical tourada - where the bull’s horns have been filed down and covered with a leather cup to protect the horse - six bulls are used. The ‘show’ is composed by two main parts.
In the first part (the most important part) a cavaleiro - a rider dressed in a traditional 18th century costume – 'fights' the bull from a horse by making the bull run and chase the horse and by stabbing different types of weapons in the bull’s back.
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First, the bullfighter stabs a special bandarilha (stick with harpoon-like end) which breaks on impact leaving the metal end stabbed in the bull while the wooden end stays with the rider and now reveals a small flag which is used to tease the bull to chase the horse.
Then, several bandarilhas (often 6 or more), similar to the banderillas used in Spanish-style bullfighting (but a bit longer) are also stabbed into the back of the bull, to produce pain and blood loss.
During the performance of the cavaleiro there are also some ‘assistants’ on foot, called banderilheiros, who are dressed very much like Spanish-style bullfighters and who also use capotes (magenta capes).
They are there to intervene if problems arise and to attract the bull when the rider changes his/her horse for a 'fresh one' (which happens every few minutes).
Then, several bandarilhas (often 6 or more), similar to the banderillas used in Spanish-style bullfighting (but a bit longer) are also stabbed into the back of the bull, to produce pain and blood loss.
During the performance of the cavaleiro there are also some ‘assistants’ on foot, called banderilheiros, who are dressed very much like Spanish-style bullfighters and who also use capotes (magenta capes).
They are there to intervene if problems arise and to attract the bull when the rider changes his/her horse for a 'fresh one' (which happens every few minutes).
Once the bull is totally exhausted because of the continuous chasing of the horse and the blood loss, the rider leaves the bullring and the second and last part starts: a group of eight men on foot called forcados challenge the bull, without protection or weapons.
The front man provokes the bull into a charge to perform a pega de touros ('bull catch'), and when he does so he hangs on to the animal's head. He is quickly aided by his companions, who surround and hold on to the animal from head to tail until it is subdued.
Finally, after the forcados leave, a group of castrated and tamed bulls is taken into the bullring to lure the exhausted fighting bull back out. Several groups of forcados compete with each other to see who controls the bull better, but the ‘hero’ of the bullfight is still the cavaleiro.
During touradas, the bull is not killed in view of the public, since this is illegal in Portugal (with the exception of some towns at the border with Spain, like Barrancos), but he is indeed killed nevertheless in most occasions.
This happens behind the scenes, hours or even days after the bullfight, since often bullfights in Portugal occur on Fridays and the slaughter man may not arrive until Monday. The bull spends this time in isolation bleeding from the wounds inflicted by the bandarilhas, without any veterinary assistance.
In Portugal, more than 4,000 bulls a year are killed for bullfighting and other cruel events. Bullfights are also organized on the Azores
Island (an autonomous archipelago that belongs to Portugal), such as on the islands Terceira and Graciosa. Both islands have their own bullring. Source and more information about Bullfighting - CAS
Island (an autonomous archipelago that belongs to Portugal), such as on the islands Terceira and Graciosa. Both islands have their own bullring. Source and more information about Bullfighting - CAS
February and March 2007, Metris GfK national survey in Portugal:
“Do you think that bullfighting should be forbidden by the law in Portugal?”,
• 50,5% of the respondents said “Yes”
• 39,5% said “No”
“Would you want the Municipality of the town where you reside to declare it a town where bullfighting activities are not authorised?”,
• 52,4% of the respondents said “Yes”
• 36,8% said “No”
Despite popular belief outside Portugal, bulls in Portuguese bullfights are always injured with several banderilhas and very often killed (in public in a handful of bullfights, and in private after the ‘show’ for the rest).
“Do you think that bullfighting should be forbidden by the law in Portugal?”,
• 50,5% of the respondents said “Yes”
• 39,5% said “No”
“Would you want the Municipality of the town where you reside to declare it a town where bullfighting activities are not authorised?”,
• 52,4% of the respondents said “Yes”
• 36,8% said “No”
Despite popular belief outside Portugal, bulls in Portuguese bullfights are always injured with several banderilhas and very often killed (in public in a handful of bullfights, and in private after the ‘show’ for the rest).
Monsaraz defies law and kills bull in makeshift ring 13-09-2012
A bull was killed unlawfully at the end of a bullfight which took place last Saturday afternoon in the medieval village of Monsaraz, Alentejo, keeping a tradition that the local population has vowed to uphold despite being widely controversial.
After the final stab was plunged at around 8.35pm, the bull was tied to the makeshift sides of the temporary ring, covered with a cloth to shield the killing from the eyes of the 1,000-strong spectators (and by doing so, keep the identity of the perpetrator under wraps) and killed.
After the final stab was plunged at around 8.35pm, the bull was tied to the makeshift sides of the temporary ring, covered with a cloth to shield the killing from the eyes of the 1,000-strong spectators (and by doing so, keep the identity of the perpetrator under wraps) and killed.
According to witnesses there was no sign of police within the ring during the fight, which took place inside Monsaraz’s castle walls. It is illegal to kill the bull in Monsaraz as it was refused permission to be considered an exception to the general rule. There is only one town in Portugal – Barrancos – where special permission has been granted to kill the bull during fights, due to it being a long-standing tradition.
Nonetheless, for the 11th consecutive year and despite the lack of an exceptional authorisation from the Cultural Activities General Inspectorate (IGAC) due to a “lack of conditions”, the bull was killed in Monsaraz. The event was part of festivities lined up in honour of the Nosso Senhor Jesus dos Passos celebrations which have taken place every year on the second weekend of September since 1877.
In 2002 a new law was introduced that states any spectacle in which the bull is killed must apply for “exceptional authorisation” unless it is in a place where it has been carried out uninterruptedly for at least 50 years as part of popular culture on a historic date. Exceptional authorisation was requested for last weekend’s fight in Monsaraz, but it was refused at the beginning of last week.
Source: Monsaraz defies law and kills bull
Source: Monsaraz defies law and kills bull
TORTURE is NO CULTURE!
