Spanish Bull Fights

A must see for any traveler is the Bullfight which is one of the most popular customs of the Spanish. The tradition of Bullfighting was originally brought to Spain by the Visigoths. It involves professional bullfighters, known as matadors, who move at a graceful and confident pitch controlling the bull and its inherent anger. The performance is highly risky with some movements involving close proximity between the matador and the bull. It is clearly not a sport for the animal lovers and the faint-hearted to see. The bull is finally killed in the end with a sword thrust in an act known as Torero and the matador takes his leave with a bow to the cheering crowd. The custom shows the man’s domination over the bull and the artistic symbioses between the man and the beast.

Another important Spanish custom is the Flamenco. It consists of three forms: Cante, the song, Baile, the dance, and Guitarra, the guitar playing. It is said to be introduced by the gypsies into the Spanish popular custom. It involves a female dancer moving to the tune of the Guitar while anything from Jazz, Salsa and Bossa Nova is being played.

The female dancers try to show their temperament rather than their artistry by fast but elegant movements of their hands and toes. You have not listened authentic Flamenco if it’s not in a juerga with a small group of friends, at midnight somewhere in the South of Spain, when there is nothing around but the voice, the guitar and the body of a dancer moving in the moonlight.