Bullfighting
A lot of people are not aware that Bullfighting is not only a Spanish thing, so I thought I'd put the image straight!
The first photos will show you the bulls in the streets , here in Vauvert, a small south of France village, on their way to the arenas, which are shown after this story, as well as a matador having pleasure! As you can see, the areanas are new, and cost a lot of public money, showing the importance of what is called "taurine" industry.
There is mainly no "mis a mort" (killing of bulls in the arenas) here, unlike Spain, but it does exist, particularly in the large cities arenas, like Nimes or Beziers etc. In most small arenas it exists also, but is considered as a different sport to that practiced normally "jeu Camargaise", which consists in younger males trying to put rings onto the bulls horns, or take them off the bulls horns. In both cases, there are cups and financial awards to be reaped, and there are professionals who make a good living, and who are considered as sportsmen and are as popular as soccer players.
There is a whole set of rituals surrounding these affairs, and it has it's own language, mainly based on a mixture of Spanish and the local "langue d'Oc".
Normally everything is in festive spirit, the whole village, and the Bulls are driven through the streets of the village to the arenas, called an "abrivado", and after the event back to the transporters (again through the streets) called a "bandido".
The mornings start with small wandering musical groups, called "pena's" who stir up the population to go to the cafe's and bars, by playing "stirring" mainly Spanish-style music. There are horses and carriages, folklore groups, dances, and all sorts of things going on around the main event - the "raseteurs" in the arenas.
Geographically these things happen from roughly Lyon down to Montpellier, and from Marseille to Montpellier, and then there is a break - where you'll see no bulls at all - until you arrive around Pezenas (Molliere's birth town) and Beziers. It is in the large towns like Nimes and Beziers where the weeklong "Feria's" and "Corrida's" take place. Strangely enough Montpellier itself (the Capital of the area ) has little or no tradition of "taureomachie" (the hobby and sport and profession of bull management and traditions).
Now you know - and even if the idea of maltreating the beasts in many ways does not appeal to you (and it doesn't to me) be sure - the feria's and all the others are worth a visit - simply for all the other traditional things which go on around the areas.
Here are some photos of the "abrivado's"
Get you later in the week!!
The first photos will show you the bulls in the streets , here in Vauvert, a small south of France village, on their way to the arenas, which are shown after this story, as well as a matador having pleasure! As you can see, the areanas are new, and cost a lot of public money, showing the importance of what is called "taurine" industry.
There is mainly no "mis a mort" (killing of bulls in the arenas) here, unlike Spain, but it does exist, particularly in the large cities arenas, like Nimes or Beziers etc. In most small arenas it exists also, but is considered as a different sport to that practiced normally "jeu Camargaise", which consists in younger males trying to put rings onto the bulls horns, or take them off the bulls horns. In both cases, there are cups and financial awards to be reaped, and there are professionals who make a good living, and who are considered as sportsmen and are as popular as soccer players.
There is a whole set of rituals surrounding these affairs, and it has it's own language, mainly based on a mixture of Spanish and the local "langue d'Oc".
Normally everything is in festive spirit, the whole village, and the Bulls are driven through the streets of the village to the arenas, called an "abrivado", and after the event back to the transporters (again through the streets) called a "bandido".
The mornings start with small wandering musical groups, called "pena's" who stir up the population to go to the cafe's and bars, by playing "stirring" mainly Spanish-style music. There are horses and carriages, folklore groups, dances, and all sorts of things going on around the main event - the "raseteurs" in the arenas.
Geographically these things happen from roughly Lyon down to Montpellier, and from Marseille to Montpellier, and then there is a break - where you'll see no bulls at all - until you arrive around Pezenas (Molliere's birth town) and Beziers. It is in the large towns like Nimes and Beziers where the weeklong "Feria's" and "Corrida's" take place. Strangely enough Montpellier itself (the Capital of the area ) has little or no tradition of "taureomachie" (the hobby and sport and profession of bull management and traditions).
Now you know - and even if the idea of maltreating the beasts in many ways does not appeal to you (and it doesn't to me) be sure - the feria's and all the others are worth a visit - simply for all the other traditional things which go on around the areas.
Here are some photos of the "abrivado's"
Get you later in the week!!
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