Ruby is an American student

studying in Spain for a year.

Shes just getting settled
into her routine at her new
school when her friends ask
her if she would like to see
una corrida de toros in La
Plaza de Toros at Las Ventas
in Madrid.

Las Ventas in Madrid

is a famous
bullfighting ring that
is considered to be
the home of
bullfighting in Spain.

Ruby feels nervous. She told her friends that she would go because she
didnt want to insult their culture or her new friends. When she got to her
host home, she asked her host parents what they thought about las
corridas de toros.
2

[My friends invited me to

amigos
a
a<<Mis
bullfight
at me
Lasinvitan
Ventas.
una
corrida
dethink
toros en
Las
What
do you
about
Ventas.
piensas de las
theQue
bullfights?],
corridas
deasks.
toros?>>
Ruby
Ruby asks.

<<Ay, Ruby! No te vas,

por favor. A mi me odio las
corridas de toros. Es tan
cruel.>>
Rubys host mom tells her.
Her host dad chimes in,
<<Oh, Ana, eres tan emocional.
Ruby, debes ir. Ser una
experiencia muy importante
para ti.>>

My friends invited me to a
bullfight at Las Ventas.
What do you think about
the bullfights?
Ruby asks.

Ay, Ruby, please dont go.

I hate bullfights. Its so
cruel.
Rubys host mom tells her.

Her host dad chimes in,

Oh, Ana, you are too
emotional. Ruby, you should
go. It will be a very important
experience for you.
3

Ruby decides to go for a walk to

contemplate what her host parents
said. She knows her host dad is
right, and she should experience
the culture of Spain, but she
doesnt want to her offend her host
mom. Shes also unsure about
what her own feelings are about
bullfighting.

On Friday, Ruby and her friends, Sofa, Mateo, Emilio, and Julieta take el
metro to Las Ventas on la calle de Alcal. At the ticket booth they buy
las entradas to see la corrida de toros from the sol y sombra section of
the arena.
5

Once they find their

seats, Ruby cant
believe the size of the
arena. There arent as
many people as she
thought there would
be. She asks Mateo
<<Dond esta la
gente?>>

Mateo responds,
<<Hay mucha gente en
Espaa hoy en dia
que no le gustan las
corridas de toros. Es
una gran controversia
aqu.>>

Once they find their

seats, Ruby cant
believe the size of the
arena. There arent
as many people as
she thought there
would be. She asks
Mateo
Where are all the
people?
Mateo responds,
There are a lot of
people in Spain
these days who do
not like the
bullfights. Its a
huge controversy
here.
6

To begin la corrida de
toros, el matador, los
picadores, and los
banderilleros enter the
arena to greet the
director.

A small band plays music in the

stands to welcome los toreros.
This procession is called el
pasella.

El toro enters, el
matador and los
toreros test his
ferocity.

Los picadores enter on

caballos and put their
lances into el morillo to
weaken the bull.

Los banderilleros are seen in

the first and second part of
the bullfight.

They attempt to but the

two banderillas into
the bull to weaken
him.

Finally, el matador enters

the ring with la muleta
and el estoque.

El matador lures el toro

into a position where he
can kill him.

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El publico wave white banderas to show the president that they think el
matador did a good job and deserves la oveja from el toro. In some
cases el toro will prove to be the champion and will be pardoned and
granted a life of freedom.
11

Ruby is quick not to draw conclusions about el corrido de toros before

learning more about the culture and history of them. When they
arrive at her friend Julietas house she asks her friends for help.
12

<<Que es la
historia detras de
las corridas de
toros ?>>
Ruby asks.

Her friend Julieta responds,

<<Bueno, Ruby, las corridas de toros empezaron para celebrar eventos
importantes de los reyes y sus invitados. Ahora, el publico tiene el poder sobre
las corridas de toros y es un simbolo de algo espaola. No es un deporte ni un
partido. Es un arte, es como un baile con el muerte como algunas personas dicen.
No nos gritamos por el muerte del toro, nos gritamos por el actuacin del
matador.>>
13

What is the history

behind the
bullfights?,
Ruby asks.

Her friend Julieta responds,

Well, Ruby, the bullfights began as a way of celebrating important events for
the royals and their guests. Now, the people have power over the bullfights and
they are a symbol of something Spanish. It is not a sport, or a game. It is an
art, like a dance with death as some people say. We dont cheer for the death of
the bull, we cheer for the acting of el matador.
13

Ruby understands that bullfighting is an art form. She knows that this
was a good way for her to experience something very specific to the
Spanish culture. Going to the bullfight has helped her understand
some aspects of the Spanish culture more deeply, and has shed
some of her doubtful feelings about the bullfights. Even though she
had fun, she isnt sure if shell watch another bullfight.
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Glosario/Glossary
1. Una corrida de toros: A bull fight
2. La Plaza de Toros: The
bullfighting arena
3. Las Ventas: The name of the
bullfighting arena in Madrid
4. El metro: The subway
5. La calle de Alcal: Alcal street.
The name of the street where Las
Ventas is in Madrid
6. Las entradas: Tickets
7. Sol y sombra: Sun and Shade
section of the arena. El sol
sections are the least expensive
areas to sit, and la sombra
sections are the most expensiv
8. El matador: The principal
bullfighter, who kills the bull
9. Los picadores: The horseman who
weakens the bull for el matador
10.Los banderilleros: The bullfighters
assistant who weakens the bull

11.Los toreros: All of the members of

the bullfight who fight the bull
12.El posella: Ceremonial entrance
of the bullfighters
13.El toro: The bull
14.Los caballos: The horses
15.El morillo: A group of muscles
over the shoulder and neck of the
bull
16.Los banderillas: A type of knife los
banderillos stick into the bull
17.La muleta: The red cape used to
distract the bull
18.El estoque: The sword used by el
matador to kill the bull
19.El publico: The crowd
20.Las banderas: The flags
21.La oveja: The ear
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A Brief History on Bullfighting in Spain

Bull fighting is thought to have begun during 711-1492 A.D. due to
knights organizing competitions that involved the hunting of bulls.
Bullfights are also said to have their origins in religious sacrifice; the
bullrings are said to have come from Celtic-Iberian temple designs.
The first real bullfight took place in 1133 at Vera, Logroo. This was
done to honor the King Alfonso VIII. From here, bullfighting became
the sport of noblemen. When King Philip II came to power he had a
strong distaste for the sport and had it banned. Due to this,
peasants took over the art of bullfighting and that is where it has
stood since then.
Once bullfighting became a sport of the poor, Francisco Romero helped
construct the rules for the sport. He was also considered the first
bullfighting hero; he was the first professional bullfighter in Spain. It
was through Romero, that bullfighting became known as an art form
rather than a grotesque fight.
The toro bravo is the species of bull that is used for the bullfighting. It
is of an ancient race that has been preserved for many years.
Reference: Polark, Ruth. History of Bullfighting. Tigbos.
http://tigbos.com/History-of-the-Corrida-de-Toros-Bullfighting.html
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