Spanish Bullfighting and Tribute to Torero Jose Cubero “El Yiyo”
Bullfighting is a national symbol of Spain and holds a controversial divide between those that are passionate about the history and the practice and those that oppose. From my side at a young age I read Hemingway’s “Death in the Afternoon” a book covering the ceremony and traditions of bullfighting. Whilst in Peru in December 1981 I had the opportunity to meet a group of Spanish toreros (bullfighters) and their troop (cuadrilla) who were part of a special festival in Lima. I had the opportunity to meet the group and one individual I managed to form a special relationship was with a young (17 year old) rising star Jose Cubero – “El Yiyo”. I was able to attend his practice sessions. He trained me how to use the cape and the sword. On the Sunday at the corrida de toros I was able to witness the nervousness and praying in the capilla (chapel) and finally the corrida (bullfight) itself. I was honoured that he attended my wedding. It lead me to visit bullfights in Spain, Peru and Mexico and visit farms in Salamanca where the bulls are raised. It is easy to see how people from both sides generate strong views for and against bullfighting. However one can only admire the magnificence of the Toro Bravo (bull). I was able to walk amongst them in the fields without danger yet in the ring their breeding generates exceptional bravery.
Some bulls, if they have displayed particularly brave and exemplary behavior in the ring, can be indultado, or pardoned. The crowd uses white handkerchiefs to persuade the president of the bullring to let the bull live.
Whilst an extremely dangerous sport the bullfighters rarely die as a result of the corrida but on the 30th of August 1985 at the age of 21 years and at the top of Spanish torero hierarchy, a bull called Burlero (the Joker) gored El Yiyo fatally in the ring and he died shortly afterwards. A favourite with the public, a stature was erected in his honour outside the Madrid bullring “Las ventas” – the largest bullring in Spain (3rd largest in the world). In this post I show some photos of Las ventas, a bullfight in Madrid and some pics of his statue. Later I will post original photos from Peru.
