Bullfighting is an art, a precise ritual with its own language, full of nuances and variables that, when understood, allow us to more deeply appreciate this ancient spectacle. Servitoro wants to help you understand the Festival with this graphic and entertaining presentation, which offers you all the information you need to enter the Plaza through the Puerta Grande.

Next, we'll highlight: the stage, the actors, and the bullfight.

Ring: The circle in the square where the bullfight takes place. It is separated from the rest of the arena by a barrier. Its diameter will not be greater than 60 nor less than 35 meters of clay (Albero).

Sun and shade: The bullrings are oriented towards the east along an axis headed by the presidential box, so that in the early afternoon, half of the box is in the shade and the other half in the sun. Near it is the royal or honor box, occupied by the authorities. Opposite is the clock of the trumpeters and drummers, in charge of the beats that separate the thirds, and in view of the president, the band.
Barrier: This is the protection designed to prevent the cattle from leaving the ring and to protect the bullfighters and other people. Its height is 1.60 meters.

The burladeros: These are defenses for the bullfighters and access to the alley. There are usually four and they are equidistant from each other. The matador on duty is usually placed in the burladero furthest from the toriles door. The peons will be placed in other burladeros.
Service areas: Outside the ring, the plazas have work areas where the bullfight is prepared. Corrales are intended for the stay of the cattle before their fight.
Chiqueros are the places used to isolate each of the bulls before they enter the ring. The Patio de Arrastre receives the mules that take the bull to the Desolladero. The Patio de Cuadrillas houses the picadors' horses.
The public seats are: The barrier, just after the alley. The contrabarrera is located immediately after, it separates the barrier from the stands. Depending on the size of the bullring, there may be high stands and low stands, with a small difference in price depending on which row each person is in. They are always numbered. Higher up and covered, is the grandstand.The andanadas, also covered, in which the price, because they are higher up, is cheaper. Obviously, the difference between sun and shade includes economic differences in the entrance.
The doors: At least four doors lead to the ring. The Puerta Grande is the main one and the winning bullfighters leave through it on the shoulders. The Puerta de Toriles is where the bull comes out into the square, and The Puerta de Arrastre is where the muleteers remove the bull. The paseíllo starts from the Puerta de Cuadrillas and the picadors leave in their third.
White circles: They divide the areas of querencia into three: "tablas", "tercios" and "medios". In each one, the bullfight takes place and also divides the three acts on stage: suerte de varas (banderillas), muletas (muletas), and estoque (sword).
Alley: This is the corridor between the barrier and the wall supporting the stands. Its width should be no less than 1.50 meters and no more than 2.50 meters.

Bullfight Times: A bullfight is divided into three parts, called “tercios” and two suertes (of the cape and of the muleta). They are, in order: the tercio de Varas, the tercio de Banderillas, and the tercio de Muerte. Between the tercio de Banderillas and the tercio de Muerte, the matador changes from the suerte de capote to the suerte de muleta.
The start of bullfights is determined by the hours of sunlight and is confirmed by the bullring about two weeks before each event.
They normally start at 5:00 p.m. in March, gradually being delayed until 7:00 p.m. in August and brought forward to 6:00 p.m. in the autumn.
A bullfight can last from one and a half to two and a half hours, or longer, depending on the number of substitute bulls in the bullfight. Each faena usually lasts about 20 minutes. Once started, access to the bullring is only permitted during the breaks between bulls.

The paseillo is the beginning of the bullfight.

The cuadrillas and all the staff working in the ring parade from the cuadrillas door to the paco de Presidencia in an exact order. They pay their respects to the Presidency, observe a minute of silence and greet the respectable public.

Monosabio: This is the young man who helps and assists the picador and the horse in the bullring during the fight. He helps him mount, holds the horse in the suerte de varas so that it is not thrown, and helps the picador if the horse falls. The clothing he wears consists of a loose red or blue blouse and dark trousers.

Mulilleros: with their team of mulillas, they are in charge of collecting the bull from the ring once it has died and the areneros: they are in charge of cleaning and maintaining the surface of the bullrings in good condition. Mulilleros: with their team of mulillas, they are in charge of collecting the bull from the ring once it has died and the areneros: they are in charge of cleaning and maintaining the surface of the bullrings in good condition.

The picador: Their role is to gauge the animal's bravery and regulate its strength. This allows them to force the bull to charge with its nose on the ground, allowing the bullfighter to shine more during the final third of the fight. Each team consists of two picadors, one for each bull the bullfighter is fighting. While one, "the one on duty" or "on duty," pricks the bull, the other, called the "picador de puerta," stands on the opposite side, guarding the door. The picador must be a brave, robust man with a strong arm, very knowledgeable in his art, and an expert rider.

The subalterns: The first row is occupied by the subordinates of the most senior matador, and so on.

The matarodes occupy the front row (the most veteran on the left, the newest in the center). Those bullfighters who are new to the ring and those who are about to take the alternative parade uncovered.

Alguacilillos: They lead the procession to the Presidency and walk around the ring, clearing it for the bullfight.

The bullfighter: also known as diestro or espada, is responsible for holding the bull with the cape, leading it to the horse, performing the task with the muleta and killing it. Sometimes they also place banderillas although the rules do not require them to. Bullfighters begin their apprenticeship by fighting young bulls at an early age. Approximately two years later, they begin their stage as a novillero, fighting smaller and stronger novillos that are 3 years old and weigh approximately 400 kilos. Finally, they become matadors after taking the alternative.

The suit of lights: its name comes from the reflections produced by the sequins that cover it. It is made of silk and covered in gold for the bullfighters and silver for the subalterns.
Shirt: it is white and decorated with ruffles.
Bow tie: a very thin ribbon that is tied like a tie, black or the color of the sash.
Jacket: decorated with braids and embroidery in gold, silver and silk. The machos hang from the shoulder pads. It is rigid and open at the armholes to facilitate arm movement.
Taleguilla: is the tight-fitting, suspender-style trousers that reach down to the calves. They are fastened at the bottom with straps.
Stockings: are made of silk and pink. They have white cotton ones underneath.
Sneakers: are flat, black, and adorned with a bow.
La montera: more than a hat, it is a headdress, an artificial hair, a kind of wig that fits over the bullfighter's head.
The use of the montera is fraught with rules, protocols, and superstitions. During the cape work, the bullfighter wears the montera. When the bullfighter moves on to the muleta work, he removes the montera, offers the bull, and throws it into the ring, where it remains until the end. The superstition held by many bullfighters that it brings bad luck if the montera falls upside down after offering it leads many to bend down to correctly place the montera on the sand.
Oh! And a bullfighter never leaves his montera on his bed; it brings bad luck.

• - The subalterns: They are the main part of the team and are given many names: peones, banderilleros or even toreros de plata. They wear silver-embroidered suits of lights; they never fight with a muleta; their only work tool is the cape or a clean body. If required, to keep the bullfighter safe, they must have a deep knowledge of the fight and the bull's terrain within the ring to place it, chase it or change its place as necessary. They are the guardian angels of the bullfighters, since they help them, position them, advise them and take care of them, all this so that the matador can better exercise his art.
• - The cuadrilla: In a normal bullfight or novillada (with three matadors and six bulls), each of the bullfighters has two picadors and three banderilleros in the cuadrilla.
• - In a mano a mano (two matadors), each of the bullfighters is made up of three picadors and four banderilleros.
• - Solo: The sole matador is accompanied by two complete normal cuadrillas, plus his own.
• - Sword bearer:This is probably the least known figure in the bullfighting team, due to his lack of prominence rather than his importance. He is the person who gives his trust, support, and unconditional devotion to his master.
• He assists him during the bullfight from the alley, providing him with all the necessary equipment (capes, muletas, montera, simulated sword, steel sword, and the verduguillo or descabello). In the moments before the bullfight, he is the one who dresses the bullfighter and is in charge of organizing all the necessary elements for each trip.

The picador: Their role is to gauge the animal's bravery and regulate its strength. This allows them to force the bull to charge with its nose on the ground, allowing the bullfighter to shine more during the final third of the fight. Each team consists of two picadors, one for each bull that the bullfighter is fighting. While one, "the one on duty" or "on duty," pricks the bull, the other, called the "picador de puerta," stands on the opposite side, "guarding the gate." The picador must be a brave, robust man with a strong arm, very knowledgeable in his art, and an expert rider.
Horse protection (bandage, breastplate and sleeves) The horse protection is called a breastplate and covers the entire body of the horse. It must weigh less than 30 kilos. Currently, the breastplate is made of Kevlar. On the legs there is another protection made of the same fabric, the sleeves. The horse wears a blindfold to prevent it from fleeing when the bull charges.
Monosabio: This is the young man who helps and assists the picador and the horse in the bullring during the bullfight. He helps the picador mount, holds the horse in the suerte de varas (the fight of the bulls) so that it is not thrown, and assists the picador if the horse falls. The uniform he wears consists of a loose red or blue blouse and dark trousers.
The puya: It is placed at the end of a 2-meter-long vara (rod) and is shaped like a triangular pyramid and 29 mm high. A crosspiece prevents the puya from entering further than it should.
The clothing:
Castoreño: It is made from beaver fur, hence its name, although other materials are now used, such as felt. It is finished off with the Moña, which is a black felt pine cone. A wide, black ribbon holds it to the head and is called the Barboquejo.
Chaquetilla: Only the matador and the picador can decorate it with gold, a privilege that recalls the times when their importance was equal to or greater than that of the matadors.
La mona and la gregoriana: Under the breeches they wear: on the right leg an iron armor, called Mona, that goes up to the crotch to avoid goring and on the left a smaller one called Gregoriana, which protects from a possible crushing against the barrier.

Dragging mules:Generally adorned with flags, strawberry trees, ribbons, and bells, they are responsible for bringing the animal into the ring once the bullfighter has killed it, assisted and guided by a team of mule drivers.

From the stands, it may seem like a simple task, but behind this task, there is a time of preparation and rehearsal. The mules are frightened when they see the bull in the arena and flee as soon as they smell the blood. Furthermore, the animals tend to walk and must be taught to run.

Areneros: They are in charge of cleaning and maintaining the surface of the bullring in good condition. They are part of the bullring staff and parade in the parade of crews, right at the end. They appear after each bullfight to smooth the sand stirred up by the bulls being dragged and to cover the remains or debris from horses and horned animals, as well as any traces of blood that may be present.

Drag Protocol:

The return to the ring: Normally, the bull is dragged in a straight line towards the drag gate, but occasionally, due to the animal's bravery and nobility during the bullfight, the President authorizes the return to the ring, where the public pays homage to the bull with applause.

The slow drag: This is a recognition of the bull, its caste, build, and bravery. The president allows time for applause, which is why the bull's remains are moved slowly.

The alguacilillos are the first to appear in the ring with the task of "clearing the plaza".
Advancing on their horses towards the Presidency of the Plaza, they ask for the corresponding permission for the spectacle to begin and, after obtaining it, they travel around the perimeter of the arena in opposite directions, each one until they reach the door of the crews to begin the "paseillo".
They are the representatives of the Authority and are responsible for going in search of the bullfighting teams and handing the key to the pens to the bullpen's chulo, who is in charge of opening them. On foot, inside the barrier, they receive the orders that the president deems appropriate and communicate them to the bullfighters or subordinates.
At the end of each bullfight, they are responsible for presenting the bullfighters with any trophies that have been awarded.
Regarding their clothing, they wear attire reminiscent of the time of Charles IV. It is black and consists of a white ruff, a short cape (doubon), and a hat topped with a plume of feathers. In Madrid they are red and yellow, while in Seville they are red and white. The ruff is usually plain, in the style of the time of Philip IV, or curly, in the style of the time of Philip III. The use of leggings and leather boots dates back to the mid-18th century, since they were not worn in the 17th century.

ThePresident is the highest authority in the bullring to interpret and enforce the Regulations.
He is the "director" of the bullfight; he sets the times, sanctions, and awards prizes.
This role is usually played by the city's Government Delegate or a prominent member of the police command. It is not an easy job; they frequently face criticism and protests from the stands.
The President has several handkerchiefs of different colors with which he gives orders and communicates with the ring and the alley so that these are followed.
Thewhite handkerchief is used to order the start of the bullfight, the exit of each bull, the changes of fate, warnings, and the awarding of trophies.
On the other hand, the green handkerchief, for the return of the bull to the pens. The red handkerchief is used to order black banderillas, the blue handkerchief is used to authorize the return of the bull to the ring and finally, the orange handkerchief is used to announce the pardon of the bull.
The first trophy is an ear. It is awarded by the public as long as there is a majority, thus demonstrating popular sovereignty. The President, as the person most responsible for the bullfight, awards the ear.
The second trophy, two ears, is awarded by the President at his discretion. A matador receives this if he has performed a good Faena de Capote, a good Faena de Muleta, and killed the bull with a single thrust.
The highest trophy consists of two ears and a tail. This is achieved when the fight is perfect. It is awarded at the discretion of the President.
The indulto of a brave bull is awarded when a bull has shown itself to be very brave throughout the fight. The oxen then arrive at the bullring and lead the bull away. This bull then becomes a stud farm.

Thefighting bull: According to historians, it descends from the wild aurochs that lived in central Europe. In the Iberian Peninsula, this bull became the fighting bull when it was tamed for bullfights. However, it was only in the 18th century that organized farms for the production of fighting bulls began to emerge, with bravery being the essential characteristic of the Iberian bull. The main difference between a wild bull and a domestic one is how it reacts when threatened.
The fighting bull of Spanish origin will continue to attack incessantly, as long as something or someone moves in front of it.
The caste: It is the pedigree of the fighting bull, the large ranches were well formed, well into the 18th century, with bulls from what are called Founding Castes: Jijona Caste, Navarra Caste, Morucha Caste, Cabrera Caste, Vazqueña Caste and Vistahermosa Caste.
Fittings of the fighting bull: It corresponds to the external appearance and behavior of the animal. According to José María de Cossio, it is called trapío “the set of visual appreciation characteristics that make one judge its appearance, appearance, and probable conditions for fighting”. Energy and liveliness of movements that indicate its nerve are required, fine or velvety skin that shows its powerful muscles, which make the animal appear thin without being so; it will have a proportionate neck. The horns will be well set and medium-sized.
Bravery:This is the essence of bullfighting. One of the characteristics of bravery is rising to punishment, rather than fleeing. The brave bull warns its prey before attacking it. It never attacks by stealth. It squares up and stands straight before whoever wants to scare it away, stares fixedly, pricks up its ears, raises its head, and sometimes retreats or takes gentle steps forward before charging ahead.

The cape technique: Commonly called the “third of quites”, the bullfighter uses it to measure the bull’s charge, as well as its strength and disposition.
The bullfighter uses the cape to receive the bull, generally with both arms, both in artistic and fighting moves, that is, in those moves that involve running at the bull, stopping it, fixing it, or putting it in a position to do so.
The cape: It is a fabric made of synthetic materials with a lot of body. The part offered to the bull is almost always fuchsia and the interior is yellow. In ancient times, it came in a variety of colors. It is coated with rubber to achieve the necessary rigidity.
Main cape techniques:
Chicuelinas: It is performed by holding the cape with both hands at chest height to summon the bull and when it charges it is gathered underneath, the bullfighter wrapping himself in it.
Verónica: It is performed by holding the cape with both hands, the bullfighter moves the cape forward to summon the bull and as it passes, he charges the move to the right or left, advancing one leg to prepare the next.
Gaoneras:The cape is held behind the back with both hands, leaving most of the flight on one side, usually the right. As the bull passes, the bullfighter makes a half turn to the opposite side of the charge, raising the cape and sliding it down the bull's back.
Revolera:The bullfighter lets go of the cape with one hand, twisting it around himself and leading the bull along.
Tafallera:The bullfighter holds the cape with two hands while letting the bull pass underneath it, sliding the cloth down the bull's back.

The Tercio de Varas has two fundamental objectives: to discover the bull's bravery, temperament, and behavior. This is when we can see whether it is brave or tame, whether it is steady or distracted.
And to shape the bull for its fight and death, through short, well-placed and measured puyazos, reducing its power and correcting defects in its charge.
To execute this move the first thing is to put the bull in its suerte, as when it is equalized to be stabbed. Once placed in sueruda, the bull shows whether it is focusing its attention on the mount as something it should attack. The picador, with the bull in its suerte, is also obliged to torear, which in 17th-century bullfighting, meant "to test the rod."
Bullfighting on horseback is about enraging the bull on horseback through a game of terrain. The geometry of the ring means that the "querencia" or "chiquero" is a zone of tameness, and the "contraquerencia" is a zone of bravery.
A good picador, in just one stretch, finds the point where the bull will charge, feeling most committed to its bravery or tameness.
While provoking him, he must excite him. It's like the bullfighter who is applauded for having the precise touch to provoke the bull's charge into the muleta, which is better than touching, hitting, or shouting.
The two lines are indicators of territory, not obligations.
The good picador leaves the shelter of the boards and goes to the middle.
The picador must throw the stick while still offering the horse's chest and hold the stick and the bull before the animal hits the breastplate, when the picador is already offering his flank.
The bull must come with joy, galloping and blindly, and must put its head down in the encounter, in addition to forcing the charge with its hindquarters, which is called "meterriendorenos"

La Faena. Tercio de Banderillas

The Tercio de Banderillas is a brilliant invention by the fathers of bullfighting and is intended to recover the bull's charge, which after the long and hard fight with the picadors, tends to settle, and its caste makes it react to the punishment with ferocity, therefore, they devised to stick a harpoon in it, so that instinct would make it go back to the cites. At the same time it is a graceful, agile move, full of grace, skill and sometimes very spectacular.

To execute this move, there is an order of placement: the matador who is responsible for the bull, stands next to the burladero (however, if he wishes, he can take charge of the bullfight and place it in luck so that the banderilleros can act or he can place the banderillas on the bull instead of his other subordinates). The lidiador (matador or subaltern) is in charge of moving the bull and leaving it placed in the third so that his companions can perform the luck of the banderillas.

The banderilleros who take their turn will stand in the middle (the first of them will place two pairs—first and third—and the other, junior, will place the second pair).

Next to them, protecting him, will be the matador who will act second. Behind the bull, ready to do the pass, are the third espada, a banderillero de brega, and another from the next team.

Banderillas are wooden poles decorated with colored paper fringes and with a harpoon at the end. This is articulated so that the banderillas hang and avoid accidents with them during the bullfight.

The Tercio de Varas is very rich in movements. If the bull has charged at the bull when he begins his run, it is said to be "de poder a poder" (power to power).

Depending on how the bullfighter and the bull are positioned in the ring, if the bull is close to the barrier and the bullfighter is too and has to start the run "on the outside," it is said to be a pair "al bias" (biased). In other cases, they are called "inside to outside" or "outside to inside." Depending on the form: "al cuarteo" (quartering), "al cambio" (change), "al quiebro de frente" (frontal quieb), "a media vuelta" (half turn), "a topa carnero" (a top of the ram), and some others.