Portugal
10
Bullfighting in Portugal
Bullfighting has old traditions in Portugal. It is said that the bull was a figure of cult for the celtiberians. Throughout history several portuguese kings participated in bullfighting (always on horse), namely D. Sancho II, D. Sebastićo, D. Afonso VI, D. Pedro II, D. Miguel and D. Carlos I. However it was never consensual in portuguese society, so much that it has been banned four times (1567, 1809, 1836 and 1919).
It's main area is in southern Portugal and it's particular popular in the region of Ribatejo and some parts of Alto Alentejo. Basically the circle demonstrates more or less the main bullfighting area:
It's scarce or inexistent outside of that circle.
The main bullfighting arena in Portugal is Campo Pequeno in Lisbon, which also hosts concerts and has an underground shopping mall:
Bullfighting has obviously recieved a lot of influences from Spain, especially during the years where it was banned and people here were trying to revive it. They would do things like in Spain, such as having music, etc. But in 1836 queen Maria II forbade the killing of the bull in the arena like it's still done today in Spain. This forced portuguese bullfighting to change and instead of a matador, "forcados" were introduced, which are a group of people on foot who will have the bull charge at them by provoking him and then hold the bull by force. This procedure is called "pega" and it only ends when the charging bull is immobilized by the group of men, then they let him go.
Before the forcados come into action, a bullfighter on horse starts the show. These riders are the main stars of bullfighting in Portugal, as opposed to the matadores in Spain. In the past bullfighting on horse was associated with the higher class, namely nobility who came to showcase their horse riding skills.
So a typical and traditional bullfighting event will start by a formal presentation of those involved, then a rider will start with the released bull. After the rider is done the forcados will hold the bull. This ends the "lead" of a bull, and after that a new bull will enter and a different rider will come, followed by another group of forcados. And so on, the number of riders and forcados depends on the event.
Accidents happen, but not so much as in Spain. Especially because here the tip of the horns is cut off, which also makes the pega by forcados possible.
When things don't go well, like the rider falling from his horse or the bull runs over the forcados who were trying to hold it, other bullfighters with a cape will rush in to try to distract to bull from the other falling bullfighters. For example you can see on of them in the background here:
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Originally Posted by Norse
Age: 15 Height: 152cm Source: 
Latin America
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