Why is Korrida still popular?

 

Corrida (from Spanish correr, or 'run') is a traditional and ritualistic human fight against the bull, taking place in a specially prepared arena (called arena de toros). It is not known exactly what the origins of Corrida are - some point to Arabs who occupied the Iberian Peninsula for eight centuries, others date back to even earlier times, pointing to Carthaginians and Romans as those who developed the Corrida custom in Spain.

This tradition has also developed in Central and South America, wherever the Spanish have made their presence felt, but also in southern France and in the Portuguese Ribatejo.

Bullfighting can take different forms: cours camarguaises in France (it is a bloodless corrida on which men dressed in white are supposed to take the ribbons off the bull's horns), or a kind of corrida called encierro, which takes place during the feast of Sanfermines in Pamplona, Spain (encierro involves chasing bulls through the streets of the city).

You do not need to be an animal rights defender to see the bestiality of this tradition. Even if the bull is not directly tormented and killed by a torreador in the arena in front of a happy crowd of people, 'playing' with frightened bulls surrounded by the crowd and annoyed by daredevils cannot be called something funny or humane. I can understand that such practices were popular hundreds of years ago, when people were generally much more violent than modern man, but nowadays, animal abuse should not happen at all. That is my own opinion, but it does not fit into my mind how the suffering of any animal can bring joy and pride to anyone.

As you can see, I have nothing to defend this southern European tradition and, at the same time, I very much hope that corrida will soon be banned throughout Spain, France, Portugal and Latin America.

But why is Korrida still popular? These are my conclusions:

1. TRADITION: Unfortunately, as is often the case with the stupidest national customs, corrida de toros is a tradition. Are you Spanish? Are you a patriot? So you have the full right, and even the duty, to cultivate national, ancient traditions. After all, what would Spain be without the symbol of the bull? Yes, in addition, it is tradition that does not blame us for the evil done to animals - because corrida has always existed and is national pride!

2. CORRIDA IS SELLING GOOD: Spaniards are not the only nation in this world that is fascinated by the sight of tormented bulls. I would be very unfair in this judgment, all the more so as many Spaniards are currently opposing bullfighting. It seems to me that the corrida still exists mainly because of tourists, who are often much more violent in nature than the native Spanish people. Many people from all over the world are taking the corridor as one of their destinations to the Iberian Peninsula - after all, you have to know all the traditions of Spain. Korrida has become a kind of symbol of that country, and we will not see the same show at home.

3. THE JUDGMENT: In the past, it used to be fun to watch gladiatorial fights or the execution of prisoners. Nowadays, would we consider it an entertainment too? Of course not. Yet bullfighting, though equally bloody and beastly, is still so popular! It is said that people are attracted to the sight of blood and abuse, and that adrenaline, when you can try to escape from an angry bull on Sanfermines yourself, or watch the bull teasing by a torreador with tension. Looking at how successful the corridors still are, I would be able to believe that it is the sight of blood and animal abuse that attracts people (unfortunately!).

4. THE THING IS ONLY AWARE: A bull is a male cow. And cows are eaten. And bulls are also bulls. Who cares if this animal suffers - after all, millions of cows and pigs also go to slaughter every day. A bull is just a stupid animal with which we can do whatever we like. In any case, there is still a belief that the bull suffers little during corriding.

5. MONEY AND FAME: For those who deal with corrida professionally (torreaders, metadors, etc.) it is a way to exist in this great world. In Spain, torreaders can make a lot of money from effective bullfighting. On top of that, there is the fame - the names of the most famous bullfighters will go down in history.