La siesta literally translates as a short nap of 15-30 minutes. However, this definition is far from the 3 hour break taken in the middle of the working day. Siesta has spread all over Spain, South America, the Philippines, the Middle East and North Africa. La siesta is a necessity and the reason is that around 2pm, the heat temperature reaches its peak and it is simply too hot to be outside. Hence the locals take a siesta and wait in the comfort of their own homes for the heat to subside.

However, this is not always the case. In areas such as Northern Spain, Southern Argentina and Chile where the heat doesn't always warrant such evasive action, la siesta has gone from being a necessity to a luxury and even a habit. Because the working day is broken up, the modern siesta is the time working people go home and spend time with their family or friends, and not necessarily take a nap. Often, families will use it as a time to have a long family lunch.

Some theorists date the origin of la siesta back to the Spanish Civil War. The war brought extreme poverty to many Spaniards, meaning they were forced to have mutiple jobs. It has been argued that the siesta was the period during which they had to eat their late lunch, due to their unusual working hours. However, whatever the origins of la siesta, it is now as firmly established in the Spanish psyche as flamenco and fiesta, and is a habit that may be difficult to break. La siesta is one of the strongest Spanish traditions, and most probably, one of the easiest to embrace as a foreigner…

 

How to Sleep a Siesta

To fully enjoy a siesta it is very important to have a good lunch with friends or/and relatives.

1. The real siesta takes place in bed and in pyjamas, but a comfortable sofa is also fine if no bed is available.
2. Timing is very important. A siesta should last between 15-30 minutes, no more.
3. Don't let anything disturb you. The siesta is a very serious business. Some people can't enjoy a siesta unless the TV or radio is on. If these kind of things help you to fall asleep, use them.
4. Silence all telephones, but don’t forget to set an alarm!

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What do I need to drive legally in Spain?

Foreigners visiting Spain as tourists who wish to rent a car should be in possession of a valid driving license that is at least two years old and be at least 23 years of age. Before traveling, you can also apply for an international driver's permit in your home country, keeping in mind that if it is issued in a different language then it must be accompanied by a translation.
Foreigners who reside in Spain are allowed to use their driver's licenses for up to 6 months while they are waiting for their Spanish driver's license to be conceded. This applies to those drivers who come from countries with driving agreements with Spain by which their license is recognized and converted into a Spanish driver's license. For foreigners whose driver's licenses come from a country with no agreement with Spain, they will be required to go through the full process of classes and exams in order to earn their Spanish license.

 

Renting a car in Spain

Spain, as one of the top tourist destinations in the world, has a large selection of car rental companies with many car models and locations to choose from. Renting a car in Spain is often one of the easiest options for weekend traveling throughout the country. Rental car companies can provide you with maps, GPS and other information so that your vehicle is fully equipped for your arrival.

 

Rules of the Spanish Roads

Remember to respect the speed limits on the national highways which can vary. On freeways the speed limit is set at 120 km/h. Within cities or villages, remember that the speed limit is 50 km/h.

Use of your cell phone is prohibited while driving in Spain unless you use a hands free device. Seat belt use is also obligatory, both in the city as well as on the highways. If you travel by motorcycle, Spanish law requires the use at all times of a helmet.

There are two police forces in Spain that monitor traffic in Spain: the Local Police (Policía Local), in charge of traffic and parking in the cities, and the Civil Guards (Guardia Civil) who regulate traffic on Spain's many highways and freeways. In case of an emergency on the road, call 112 for assistance.

 

Driving Routes in Spain

Madrid, the capital of Spain, is an excellent point of departure to travel around Spain. Located in the center of the country, Madrid offers a network of freeways to most major Spanish cities. Within two hours by car one can travel to cities like Toledo, Segovia or Salamanca. Within five hours driving distance from Madrid are the cities of Seville, Granada, Bilbao and Santander.

Another good drive is along the Mediterranean Sea: Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante… and if you have time you could drive the whole eastern coast until you reach Andalusia.

There is also a driving route along the famous St. James' Way pilgrimage route; through Navarra, La Rioja, northern Castile and Leon and Galicia; places that you definitely should not miss.

However, the best thing is for you to come and experience this all on your own, driving through Spain while breathing in the fresh Mediterranean air, an unbelievable experience.

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King Carlos III brought the lottery to Spain from Naples, which was a type of drawing related to what is known today as the Lotería Primitiva; the first drawing was held in 1763.

In 1811, in the city of Cadiz, the modern lottery was created as it is know today in the hopes of increasing state revenue for the public tax authority. This modern lottery was initiated in 1812 in Cadiz. On February 28, 1814 the lottery drawing was held in Madrid for the first time, a city that has since become the center for Spanish National Lottery drawings.

National Lottery tickets are official documents, like bank notes, and counterfeiting them is a criminal offense punishable by law. A lottery ticket, similar to a bank note, belongs to the bearer, meaning the person holding the ticket is considered its proprietor.

Of all the different National Lottery drawings, the special Christmas drawing is without doubt the most popular in Spain. The famous Spanish lottery is always held on December 22, and in a certain sense, it marks the beginning of Christmas festivities for Spaniards. The most important prize here is known as el gordo (“the big one”, or literally “the fat one”). Although the el gordo prize is not economically greater than prizes awarded for other types of National Lottery winning tickets, it is the most desired prize to win. The importance of the prize has even produced Spanish language expressions such as tocarle el gordo a alguien (to win el gordo) alluding to the notion of unexpectedly obtaining something very desirable by luck.

The Christmas Lottery, as with all Spanish lotteries, pays out 70% of earnings in prizes. El Gordo has a value of 4,000,000 € per whole ticket. Since 2011, 100,000 numbers ranging from 00000 to 99999 are played in the Christmas drawing. Each number is divided into a series (with 195 series per number) and each series is divided into tenth shares, called décimos, which cost 20 € each, with a whole ticket costing 200 €.

El Gordo de Navidad is such an important social phenomenon, that even people that do not make a regular habit of playing the lottery often do participate in this special drawing. This is the drawing that offers tickets for the longest amount of time; Christmas Lottery whole tickets or décimos are available for purchase as early as July. It is also common for people to create shares known as participations, dividing the cost of the ticket into small amounts worth only a few cents, and then offering them as gifts to customers in places such as produce stores or fish markets.

The Christmas Lottery drawing is something of a show in itself. On December 22nd, at 8:00 in the morning, many TV and radio stations air the drawing live. This takes place in the Nation Lottery hall in Madrid. Winning numbers are chosen by a traditional system involving two enormous lottery drums. One of these drums contains 99,999 small wooden balls each numbered by laser –instead of paint as the paint’s weight could affect drawing probabilities. These balls measure nearly 19mm in diameter and weigh 3 grams each. Next to the drum containing the numbers sits the prize drum, with 1,807 balls that make up all the prizes to be awarded in the drawing.

The balls are handled and watched over in the strictest of confidence. These are presented to the public a day before the drawing for its approval. Three people are responsible for a complex security system that protects the event from unfair tampering.

The Spanish lottery hall is opened on December 22nd at 8:00 to spectators that fill the venue. Some arrive sporting special lottery clothing, others just arrive with tickets and décimos in pocket. At 8:30, the drawing committee presiding over the event is given authorization to act as such. Then, the balls are transported via chute and mechanically dropped into the drums. Once the balls are inside, the drums are closed and simultaneously rotated.

About a half an hour later, the drawing itself begins when a child from the S. Ildefonso school (the school responsible for preparing children to sing out these numbers and prizes) takes the first ball, and sings out its number, at which point a classmate goes on to sing out the corresponding prize. The balls are then placed on a wire frame, and when this is full of balls, the drum is spun again and the process repeats. Two hundred balls from each class make up a table. When a table is completed, the children are relieved. The process continues until a prize appears, prompting the child with the prize ball to signal to a classmate, by use of a gesture, to sing out the number in a higher octave than a normal number would call for… This produces a commotion in the drawing hall as suspense builds in the hopes that el Gordo will be called.

The Spanish lottery drawing of the final prize ball marks the end of event. Tables formed by pairs of balls with the number and corresponding prizes remain on public display six more days. After this time, the balls will be collected, counted and stored for the following drawing to be held using the traditional system.

In the newspapers and on television and radio news programs, the story of the day always contains the same features: smiling faces of lucky big prize winners getting sprayed with cava (a Spanish sparkling wine) in some part of Spain. Those not-so-lucky observers will have to wait until the following year to try their luck again at winning el Gordo. Hope is the last thing to be lost, and the most heard line on the afternoon of December 22nd is always: “oh well, at least we have our good health”.

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There are many reasons why Spain attracts teenagers. The environment in Spain is spontaneous and informal which makes it easy for adolescents to make friends. Additionally, the normal schedule in Spain is much more relaxed than in other countries, which is more in line with the natural rhythms of youth. The lifestyle in Spain revolves around taking in fresh air, walking and carrying out one's life in the city center. This allows teenagers in Spain to enjoy a certain freedom that they may not be able to experience elsewhere. Spanish teenagers often get together in the city center and hang out, with nothing to fear, since Spain is a very safe country.

Additionally, there are many things for teenagers in Spain to do during the year.

 

Sports and Action

Spanish teenagers have many options to practice fun activities or sports in the outdoors.

In the summer, many teenagers in Spain practice adventure sports such as canoeing, rafting or climbing. In fact, there are many companies dedicated to adventure sports in the country. In the winter, the same mountains that are alive and active in the summer become great places to ski or snowboard.

Spanish teenagers can also have fun from coast to coast in this country blessed with over 3,000 kilometers of coastline. Teenagers in Spain can surf the wild waves of the Cantabrian Sea in the north or practice windsurfing and kit-surfing in the blusterous Strait of Gibraltar.

If you prefer to watch sports rather than play them, there is no shortage of prestigious sporting events and famous athletes in Spain. Watch the Formula 1, important tennis matches or catch an exciting Real Madrid or FC Barcelona European football game… the list is endless.

 

Theme parks and Water parks

Spain has more theme parks than any other European country!

Some of the large North American studios have opened parks in Spain such as Port Aventura by Universal Studios near Barcelona, or the Warner Brothers Park in Madrid. These theme parks attract a large number of teenagers from Spain as well as families from all over Europe. Warner Brother's Park has some of the most exciting rides while Universal's Port Aventura Park, apart from its record breaking attractions, is famous for its attention to detail in the thematic areas.

Other parks are also popular with teenagers in Spain. Isla Mágica, in Seville, recreates important moments in history such as the American Conquest. Terra Mítica Park, in Alicante, is also dedicated to ancient times with various attractions and monuments from different civilizations.

Spanish teens can also enjoy some more classic amusement parks; some are over one hundred years old. These parks, such as the Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, the Parque de Atracciones del Tibidabo in Barcelona and Tívoli Park in Malaga, have been continually renovated over the years but still manage to conserve their classic appeal.

During the hot summer, teenagers in Spain can head to one of the country's many water parks. Aquópolis is particularly famous with seven parks located throughout Spain including the largest water park in Europe in Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid. Other important water parks in Spain are located in famous vacation spots such as Aqualandia in Benidorm or Aquarama in Benicasim.

 

Going out

Going out is a popular activity for teenagers in Spain because it is a great way to experience the true environment of the country. In all Spanish towns and villages it is tradition to hold festivals and other celebrations in the street including outdoor concerts, markets, fairs, firework displays, competitions, food stands, parades etc. Get swept up in all the fun celebrations in Spain, just like a Spanish teenager!

Spaniards are well known for their love of being outside where they carry out the majority of their social life. Teenagers in Spain also spend a great deal of time outdoors having drinks and tapas with friends on bar terraces before going out at night. In fact, there are many dance clubs especially for Spanish teenagers where they can hang out, dance and have fun without any alcohol served.

 

Other things to do

Teens in Spain can also take advantage of the many programs and activities offered through the city and specially designed for adolescents. Spanish teenagers can take up different sports or sign up for crafts, cooking or dancing classes. These programs are free of charge and are designed to teach Spanish youth how to have fun in a healthy and safe way.
 

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Colombia - The only risk is that you never want to leave! Colombia - The only risk is that you never want to leave! Colombia Colombia as an authentic country that feels and is very safe and where the local, helpful people proudly want to show you the country. Colombia Off <!-- Revive Adserver Etiqueta JS asincrónica - Generated with Revive Adserver v5.0.2 --><ins data-revive-zoneid="7" data-revive-id="ec923599c3fad9b044f22a6a73433428"></ins><script async src="//ads.iegrupo.com/www/delivery/asyncjs.php"></script> emma.metsers

In the beginning, pop music was introduced into Spain via two fundamental groups: Los Teen Tops featuring Mexican Enrique Guzmán and the Cuban-American band Los Llopis. These groups translated and recorded famous American rock and roll songs which would become very famous in Spain in the 1960s.

The Price Theatre Circus had an important role in the development of Spanish pop music. In 1962, they decided to put on Sunday matinee session in which young rock bands performed that had previously only moved around in marginal circles and had not yet signed record deals.

In this period, during the dictatorship of General Franco, this type of music was not appreciated by the leaders or the conservative public opinion, which dominated at the time. As a result, these Spanish music festivals were prohibited. However, the new rhythms had already made there way to the streets of major cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia. The advancement of the new pop sounds was unstoppable.

July 1st, 1965 was an extremely important date for Spanish pop music. On this day The Beatles arrived in Spain to give two concerts in Madrid and Barcelona respectively. This event further propelled the diffusion of pop music, although it was not without controversy. In Madrid only 5,000 fans were allowed to attend the concert when the capacity of the venue was of 18,000 people. The police prevented anyone whom they thought looked suspicious or sleazy from entering the venue. The truth is that the Francoist regime was afraid that the concert would cause disturbances in the city.

But music kept evolving for decades to come. In the 80s, the so-called “Golden Age of Pop Music”, influences from new wave and punk music were arriving. These movements influenced the Madrilenian groove scene with Spanish groups like Kaka de Luxe, Alaska y Dinarama,Radio Futura and Hombres G. Similar movements occurred in the periphery of Spain with groups like Loquillo in Catalonia, Siniestro Totaland Os Resentidos in Galicia and Kortatu y La Polla Records in the Basque Country.

It is also worth mentioning that towards the end of the 70s there were many heavy metal bands. Bands like Barón Rojo or Ángeles del Infierno opened up new musical paths, albeit outside of the groove scene movement.

In the 90s the number of pop bands increased. Among them were the many singers that came out of televised music competitions in the latter part of the 90s such as the program Operación Triunfo (Triumph Operation).

Spanish Bands
 

1960s-1970s

• Los Salvajes
• Los Grimm
• Los Protones
• Los Brincos
• Fórmula V
• Miguel Rio
• Relámpagos
• Los Módulos
• Triana

 

1980s

• Alaska
• Radio Futura
• Gabinete Caligari
• Loquillo y los Trogloditas
• Duncan Dhu
• La Unión
• Martirio
• Miguel Bosé
• Olé Olé
• Seguridad Socia
• Toreros Muertos
• Os Resentidos
• Barón Rojo
• Barricada
• Ángeles del Infierno
• Ñu
• Coz
• Los Ilegales
• Nacha Pop
   

1990s

• Alejandro Sanz
• Ronaldos
• Presuntos Implicados
• Juan Perro
• Jarabe de Palo
• Héroes del Silencio
• Estopa
• Celtas Cortos
• Ketama
• Mago de Oz
• Marta Sánchez
   

2000s

• David Bisbal
• David Bustamante
• Chenoa
• La Cabra Mecánica
• Amaral
• La Mala Rodríguez
• Australian Blonde
   

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Dating back to the era of the Catholic Monarchs of Spain (Isabel of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon), Las Sevillanas consists of 3 elements: the dance, the song and the music. Since 1847 it has been the iconic dance of the annual April Seville Fair where there is even a Sevillana Dance devoted specifically to it. This dance is taught in the majority of schools across the country. The music of Las Sevillanas is heard in many other fairs and festivals in the south of the country and numerous new albums are released by local groups each year. Some examples are Los Romeros de la Puebla, Los Amigos de Gines and Los Choqueros. Many of these groups have become known internationally as well as across Spain and, nowadays, the popular Las Sevillanas is even danced to in clubs!

Las Sevillanas is characterized by its graceful yet dynamic flamenco style and is even considered by some as the ´true flamenco´. Certain purists do not even consider it as flamenco and, instead, as a separate type of dance altogether.

The dance is in ¾ or even 6/8 time, split into 4 distinctive parts which are each separated with a brief interval and can be either fast or slow however, in recent years, the dance has gradually become slower.

Supposedly one of the most difficult dances, Las Sevillanas consists of complete feet, hand and arm co-ordination. It is generally danced to in pairs of either 2 women or a man and a woman but is sometimes carried out in groups, lines, or even with 2 girls and a boy. Las Sevillanas symbolizes the four stages of a man courting a woman and the music, dance and song all come to a sudden stop at the end.

The song is normally sung by local groups and the music is light and happy with lyrics based on the countryside, the neighbourhood, the marvels of Seville, the famous annual Sevillano pilgrimage to El Rocío and, of course, like any other song, love.

The music is always accompanied by a guitar which, along with the singer, begins the song. This is then often followed by 'hand-clapping' before the dance begins. The tone of the guitar depends on the song but the guitar player generally strums lightly throughout. Sometimes, there are other typically Spanish instruments which accompany the song also such as castanets, a flute, a tambourine or a small drum.

Las Sevillanas is a clear demonstration of the varied dance culture across Spain as it is one of many traditional dances and still remains popular today, even amongst the youth. This specific form of flamenco has a long and interesting history and presumably will continue to be carried on by generations of Andalusians to come

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Many of the people of Aragon are of Iberian descent and this part of the country has great Moorish influences hence some say that the dance is, in fact, of Moorish origin. Nevertheless, there are many different variations of the dance depending on the region such as in Valencia, Castile, Navarra, Cantabria, Asturias, Galicia and Murcia.

The dance is visual more than anything with dancers wearing traditional, regional costumes and the music is accompanied by castanets and generally a male and female couple dancing. In formal settings the jota is more of a theatrical display with dancers wearing more extravagant costumes. However, such things are not used in less formal, everyday settings.

The songs are based on diverse themes such as patriotism, religion, sexual exploits, love and marriage and are intended to arouse a sense of local identity and cohesion for the community. Funerals and wakes are an opportunity to dance the jota as it is often performed in watching the dead. The patriotic Aragonese believe that when a girl is dancing the jota she is able to capture the heart of any man. The dance has reached as far in the Spanish-speaking world as Paraguay and in the city of Pilar, many people join in the dance at the city’s annual festival.

The jota is a quick Spanish dance with a ¾ rhythm yet some insist that a 6/8 time is better adapted to the poetic and choreographic structure and the steps are similar to the waltz however with much more variation.

Different variations of the dance have different styles, for example the Castilian version uses guitars, bandurrias, lutes, dulzaina and drums yet the Galicians use bagpipes, drums and bombos.

Originally, the Aragonese jota had highly complicated dance steps, however the Castilian variation is much quicker but with a calmer feel. The Philippine jota was another variation during the Spanish colonial period in the Philippines. It was performed by Spanish men and women in social gatherings such as weddings and the Filipinos adopted this dance forming various versions combining both Spanish and Filipino choreography and music.

Several non-Spanish musicians have incorporated the jota into their music such as the French composer, Georges Bizet in his famous Spanish opera Carmen.

Like any dance, the jota has gradually developed over time and still continues to change, however this is mainly due to the dance’s complexity. Towards the end of the 19th century, the jota had become much more choreographed and it has even been used in movies and festivals. There are many modern varieties also which are performed by numerous folk groups.

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Animals

Cabestros: Cabestros are male castrated bulls or steer, of a different breed than the fighting bulls. They are tamed and used to help on toro bravo ranches. They are also trained to be used in encierros and bullfighting rings to guide the herd through the streets and into their corrals. They are easily identifiable by the bells they wear around their necks.

Tienta: Both female and male toros are tested at age two to see if they are suitable for breeding, bullfighting, or meat. Males are judged based on their aggression towards horses, as they are not allowed to confront a human on the ground until the day they enter a bullfighting ring. Females are often fully tested by a bullfighter and capes to determine their courage and suitability for breeding. Male bulls who pass the<em> tienta</em> will return to their pastures and females who pass will be used to bear offspring. Those who do not pass are slaughtered.

Novillos: Novillos are those male bulls that are less than 3 years old or do not pass the bravery and stamina test to become first rank fighting bulls. These bulls are used in novilladas to train novilleros.

Toro: a Bull - an Iberian cattle breed. Fighting bulls are selected primarily for a certain combination of aggression, energy, strength, stamina and intelligence. They reach maturity slower than meat breeds as they were selected to be athletic with massive muscles, especially the morillo, a complex of muscles over the shoulder and neck which gives the bull its distinctive profile and strength with its horns. The horns are longer than in most other breeds and are also present in both males and females. Mature bulls weigh from 500 to 700 kg (1100-1600 lb).

Toro de Lidia/Toro Bravo: male “macho” fighting bulls selected and bred to be used in encierros (running of the bull) and corridas de toro (bull fights).

Vaquillas/Novillas: female wild cow of the same breed as the fighting bulls between two and four years old. They are traditionally used in place of fighting bulls or novillos for capeas or encierros in village celebrations because they are much smaller and less likely to cause grave damage.

 

Bullfighters

Banderilleros/Rejoneadores: Each matador has 3 banderilleros or “Flagmen” who are also considered as toreros.

Cuadrilla: The  6 assistants of  a matador are collectively known as a cuadrilla, or an entourage: 2 picadores, 3 banderilleros, and 1 mozo de espada.

Matadores: Matador de toros literally translated as “bull killer” is the professional level of a bullfighter.

Mozo de espadas: The matador’s assistant or “sword page”. The mozo de espadas prepares and hands the matador all the equipment necessary during the corrida.

Novillero: a junior bullfighter who is still in training and has not yet been declared matador de toros. Novilleros fight novillos to gain experience. These fights usually take place in small towns and villages during their celebrations.

Picadores: Bullfighters or “Lancers,” mounted on horseback with varas (lances). During the first stage of the bullfight the picador enters the arena on horseback armed with a vara. The horse is protected from the bull by a petro, a protective mattress-like covering.

Torero: The term torero or “bullfighter” includes matadores, picadores and banderilleros.

 

Bullfight

Banderillas: Translated literally as "little flags" which are harpoon-pointed colorful sticks that are jabbed into the bull's back.

Capote: gold and magenta dress cape used in the first third of the corrida

Descabello: The act of severing the bull’s spinal cord with a vedugo.

Estocada: a quick sword thrust between the bull’s shoulder blades and through the heart. This movement is intended to result in a quick and clean death.

Faena: The third stage of the corrida performance with a muleta consisting of a series of tandas.

Indultado: A few times a year a bull will be indultado, or 'pardoned', meaning his life is spared due to 'outstanding' behavior in the bullring. The audience petitions its pardon by waving white handkerchiefs.  If pardoned, the bull is returned to the field where he will live up to 20 to 25 years and be used as a stud.

Lidiar/Torear: Verb “to bullfight” until death.

Muleta: small red cape used in the third stage of the Spanish bullfight

Paseíllo: A parade of all the toreros through the arena before a corrida.

Tanda: Series of passes between the bull and torero: a typical tanda might consist of three to five basic passes and then a finishing touch, or "remate", such as a "pase de pecho", or "pase de desprecio".

Tercios: A corrida is divided into three tercios or “thirds.”

Traje de luces: custom-made matador costume embroidered with silver or golden thread inspired by 18th century Andalusian clothing.

Vara/rejones de castigo: long lance / lances of punishment used by the rejoneadores.

Verdugo/Puntilla: a second type of sword used to severe the bull’s spinal cord to kill it instantly in the event of a failed estocada.

 

Bull events

Capeas: Organized events in which vaquillas are released in a plaza and the public can interact with them. Vaquillas are aggressive although much less dangerous than bulls.

Novilladas: Bullfights in which novilleros fight novillos to gain experience.  These fights usually take place in small towns and villages during their celebrations.

Encierro: Consists of a running of the bulls through the streets. Runners run down fenced lined streets in front of a small heard of toros, novillos or vaquillas on their way to the plaza where they will await the afternoon´s bullfight in the stalls. Cabestros are often present to guide the herd and often suffer aggressive attacks from the bravo untamed bulls.

Corrida de toros: A public spectator bullfighting event which occurs in a bullfighting ring. Normally three bullfighters confront 3 bulls each in a corrida.
 

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The corrida starts with a parade called paseíllo in which the participants enter the arena to salute the presiding dignitary.

Stage 1 - Tercio de Varas ("third of lances"). In the first stage, the bull enters the ring where it will be tested by the matador and banderilleros with the required tanda ("series of passes") using the capote. During this phase the matador observes the bull's behavior, how it charges and its ferocity.

Next, two picadores enter the arena armed with a long lance or varas and mounted on large heavily padded and blindfolded horses. When the bull attacks the horse the picador stabs just behind the morillo, a mound of muscle on the bull's neck. The manner in which the bull charges the horse also provides important clues to the matador regarding which side the bull prefers. If successful, the combination blood loss and the force exerted by the bull to lift the horse up with its neck and horns will strain the bull enough to cause it to hold its head lower during the following stages of the bullfight. This is a mandatory step in the corrida which makes the bull's charges less dangerous and more reliable, enabling the matador to perform.

Stage 2 - Tercio de banderillas (“third of flags”). In the next stage, the tercio de banderillas, the three banderilleros each attempt to plant two banderillas, or sharp barbed sticks, into the bull's shoulders. The banderillas further weaken the bull but also anger it, cause it to make more ferocious charges. Sometimes the matador places his own banderillas.

Stage 3 - Tercio de Muerte ("third of death"). In this stage, the matador re-enters the ring with a red cape or muleta stretched over a wooden dowel in one hand and a sword in the other. From the moment the first pass is performed, the matador has a total of 15 minutes to kill the bull.

The matador will perform a series of tanda, different series of passes all with specific names that make up the faena, or entire performance with the muleta. The faena ends with a series of passes in which the matador attempts to maneuver the bull into a position to kill it with an estocada, or the thrusting of the sword between the bull's shoulder blades and through the heart. A clumsy estocada can raise loud protests and destroy the whole performance.

If the matador is unsuccessful in the estocada, a descabello must be performed in which the matador uses a verdugo sword to lower the bull's head by pricking its nose and then delivers a quick thrust to the back of the bull's neck with the intention of severing its spinal cord to kill it instantly. If the bull does not die immediately a coup de grace s performed by a puntillero or cachetero in which a dagger is used to completely pierce the spinal cord.

The bull's body is then dragged out by a team of mules or horses. If the residing official is impressed with the animal, it may be drug around the arena as an honor. Very rarely, a bull may be granted an indulto, or pardon for an outstanding performance. The indulto is requested by the public by waving handkerchiefs before the estocada and must be approved by the president. If pardoned, the bull will be symbolically freed by the matador, which is a great honor. The bull will never fight again as no bull with any experience can ever be used more than once because they learn from experience and thus would be too dangerous.

If the matador has performed particularly well, the crowd may petition the president to award the matador an ear of the bull by waving white handkerchiefs. If his performance was exceptional, the president will award two, and in some rings a tail can also be awarded. If the matador won at least two ears during the corrida then he is eligible for salida en hombros, to be carried out on the shoulders of admirers.

 

Bullfighter Gorings

Bullfighting has gotten much safer over the years, especially with the introduction of padded protection for the horses and special medical surgical units for the toreros. For toreros, the most dangerous part of the corrida is when they perform the estocada. With no protection, one error can cost life of the matador. Cogidas is the word used when the torero is “gored” by the bull.

 

Bullfighting Controversy

Bullfighting has generated controversy in many parts of the world, including Spain, Portugal, Peru, Mexico and Ecuador. It was even recently prohibited in Catalonia, an autonomous region of Spain. Supporters argue that it is a cultural tradition and an important source of tourism while animal rights advocates consider it a blood sport that tortures both bulls and horses.

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