Bullfighting
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
a Spanish sport. It is supposed to be of Greek and Roman origin. It was introduced into Spain by the Moors, and became popular throughout Spain and its New World colonies. The cruel practice is still maintained in many Spanish cities and in Mexico. The fight takes place in an inclosed area, usually well sanded. The spectators are placed on seats well up out of the way. The bulls, magnificent animals reared for the purpose, are introduced one at a time with show of ceremonial. The attack is begun by horsemen, called picadores`, who prick the bull with lances and evade his charges as best may be; frequently horses are disemboweled and riders injured. At the proper stage a swarm of active young men, called banderilleros, advance into the arena and torment the now infuriated animal by throwing light darts at him. Soon he is carrying a forest of arrow-like darts adorned with gay banners or even fire-works. He charges this way and that. His attention is constantly attracted by new assistants who fling their barbed darts and escape. The more infuriated the bull, the wilder his charges, and the more nearly he kills someone, the greater the excitement and glee on the benches. Finally when the noble animal has been tortured and goaded to exhaustion, the matador advances with a piece of red silk on a long rod to attract the bull's attention, and, as it passes him to gore the red flag, he gives it the finishing stroke by a thrust of his straight sword. The dead bull and injured horses are then dragged out, fresh sand is strewn, and another beast is introduced. See Spain ; Mexico ; Bear Baiting
What Has Changed in the Last Century
Aiton's called it "the cruel practice" in 1910 and noted that horses were "frequently disemboweled" — that at least has been curbed, since Spain has required padded protective barding for the picadors' horses since the late 1920s. The spectacle itself survives almost exactly as described, but its legal ground has shifted: Colombia legislated a national ban in 2024, to take full effect by 2027, and Mexico City in 2025 outlawed the killing of the bull and the use of blades and barbed darts, leaving only a bloodless version. Catalonia's 2010 ban was overturned by Spain's constitutional court, and the Spanish state has declared bullfighting part of the national cultural heritage — yet attendance and public support keep falling, and the ring now depends heavily on public subsidy. The chief change since 1910 is not the ritual but the audience: what Aiton's reported as a popular sport is now a contested minority pursuit.
Written for this edition, 2026.