I love Spain, and in fact, my mom's side of the family is Spanish, so I feel obligated to teach others about Spain, and even to tell you about Spain's darker side.
Here is a list of five traditions that involve animal abuse that you might find a complete surprise.
1. Toro De La Vega – The Lancing Of The Bull
Toro de la vega is a medieval festival in Tordesillas, Spain. which involves fighting, hunting and chasing one single bull. Hundreds of lancers gather to perform this terrible act every year at Virgen de la Peña festivity (September 8). If the bull surpasses the limits of the tournament, or the lancers are not able to kill it, it will be 'pardoned'.
2. The Pero Palo Festival In Villanueva de la Vera, Spain
Pero palo is the name of a life sized doll, which is celebrated at the festival also named pero palo. It goes on every year in Villanueva de la Vera, a town in the province of Caceres. The festival is celebrated by riding and scaring a donkey. One of the locals rides a donkey while the crowds chant and fire shotguns to scare the poor animal. The whole purpose is simply to frighten the animal and it's supposed to be entertainment for the crowd.
Pero palo is the name of a life sized doll, which is celebrated at the festival also named pero palo. It goes on every year in Villanueva de la Vera, a town in the province of Caceres. The festival is celebrated by riding and scaring a donkey. One of the locals rides a donkey while the crowds chant and fire shotguns to scare the poor animal. The whole purpose is simply to frighten the animal and it's supposed to be entertainment for the crowd.
3. ``Corrida de torros`` Bullfighting
Probably one of the best known traditions on this list is bullfighting. The tradition involves a torero or matador, who tries to kill the bull in an arena. Spain's first bullfighting ring was in La Maestranza in Seville, Spain, in 1765. In areas where they still allow bullfighting, it is not considered a blood sport, but an art form.
Probably one of the best known traditions on this list is bullfighting. The tradition involves a torero or matador, who tries to kill the bull in an arena. Spain's first bullfighting ring was in La Maestranza in Seville, Spain, in 1765. In areas where they still allow bullfighting, it is not considered a blood sport, but an art form.
4. ``Rapa de bestas`` in Galicia
Rapa de bestas is a tradition where locals at different locations in Spain, capture wild horses, which live freely in the mountains in Spain, and cut off their manes and mark the foals, and then release the scared horses back into the wild. The best known is the Rapa das Bestas of Sabucedo, in the city hall of A Estrada, which lasts three days: the First Saturday, Sunday and Monday in July.
Rapa de bestas is a tradition where locals at different locations in Spain, capture wild horses, which live freely in the mountains in Spain, and cut off their manes and mark the foals, and then release the scared horses back into the wild. The best known is the Rapa das Bestas of Sabucedo, in the city hall of A Estrada, which lasts three days: the First Saturday, Sunday and Monday in July.
5. Baby quail catapulting in Valencia
In Valencia, the locals gather week-old baby quail birds and shoot them out of a specially made canon. It's a primitive form of clay pigeon shooting, and it draws a big crowd.
In Valencia, the locals gather week-old baby quail birds and shoot them out of a specially made canon. It's a primitive form of clay pigeon shooting, and it draws a big crowd.
sources:
http://www.animal-rights-action.com/spanish-festivals.html
https://youtu.be/-zrYfQd8-nQ
http://globalanimalwelfare.org/top-10-animal-cruelty-traditions-in-spain/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toro_de_la_Vega_tournament
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/233/558/647/stop-abusing-donkeys-at-peropalo-festival-in-spain/
https://es.wikipedia.org/whttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullfighting
http://www.animal-rights-action.com/spanish-festivals.html
https://youtu.be/-zrYfQd8-nQ
http://globalanimalwelfare.org/top-10-animal-cruelty-traditions-in-spain/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toro_de_la_Vega_tournament
https://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/233/558/647/stop-abusing-donkeys-at-peropalo-festival-in-spain/
https://es.wikipedia.org/whttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullfighting