The timing of the corrida

The corrida is divided in three tercios (stages) and two suertes (parts): capote –when the bullfighter uses the capote (cape)- and muleta (a scarlet cloth folded over a wooden stick). The first tercio is called varas (Pikes), the second banderillas (Little Harpoons) and the third muerte (Death). After the second tercio, the matador will switch from the suerte de capote to the suerte de muleta.

The beginning time of the corrida will be determined by the intensity of sunlight. In Spain normally corridas begin at 5 pm in March and since then they are systematically postponed until 7 pm, which is the normal beginning time in August. In autumn, they usually begin at 6 pm. The bullring will confirm the time of each show two weeks before.

The duration of a normal corrida ranges from one hour and a half to two hours and a half.

Exceptionally it can last more than that if the number of sobreros (extra bulls) is unusually large. The average length of a faena (work with one bull) is around 20 minutes. The seats cannot be accessed or left during the faena. Spectators must wait until the break time.

The parade

Is the beginning of the corrida. Bullfighters, their troupes and all people who work in the bullfight march from the puerta de cuadrillas (Gate of the Troupes) to the palco presidencial (presidential balcony). The order is very strict. Once the parade is finished, the participants wave their hands at the president, wait one minute in silence and then wave at the audience.

Monosabios (Assistants) They help the picador (the man on a horse armed with a pike) when he is fighting the bull

Mulilleros (Muleteers) Helped by three mules, they drag the carcass of the bull out of the bullring after the faena

Areneros (Sandmen) They take care of the sand of the ruedo, keeping it in a good condition for the lidia (fight)

Picadors (Riders armed with a pike) Two of them work for each matador. During the paseíllo, they follow the same order than secondary bullfighters

Subalternos (Secondary Bullfighters) Those working for the oldest matador occupy the first row, then come those working for the second oldest and finally those working for the youngest
Matadores (Bullfighters) They occupy the first row in the parade. The oldest one is located on the left side and the youngest in the middle. If a matador is fighting bulls for the first time in that bullring, he will carry his montera (hat) in his hands during the paseíllo.

Alguacilillos (Sheriffs) They drive the parade to the presidential balcony and after that they spin around the ruedo on their horses to verify that everything is prepared for the bullfight to begin.

The matador

El torero or matador (Bullfighter), also known in Spanish as diestro (right handed, skilled) or espada (sword holder). He is in charge of conducting the lidia (fight) with the capote (cape), bringing the bull to the horse of the picador, perform artistic passes with the muleta (scarlet cloth) and killing the bull. Occasionally he can harpoon the bull using the banderillas, even though that is not mandatory.

Matadors begin their learning fighting erales (two-year-old bulls) at an early age. If they are successful, two years later they would begin to fight novillos (three-year-old bulls with an average weight of 300 kilos). Finally, the time of their alternativa (debut) will arrive and they will begin to kill adult bulls.

La montera
It is a very sophisticated sort of hat. Good ones resemble a wig which perfectly adapts to the head of the bullfighter.

Using a montera implies following lots of rules, protocol and superstition. During the suerte de capote, the matador would be wearing it. However, when he begins to use the muleta he takes the montera with his hand, waves at the audience and throws it to the center of the bullring. The hat will remain there until the end of the faena. Many bullfighters are superstitious and consider that if the montera falls upside down, that will bring them bad luck. For this reason some of them would carefully place it in the right way on the sand instead of throwing it. Also, a matador would never leave the montera on his bed. That also brings bad luck!

Coleta
Artificial ponytail which helps the matador to keep the montera on his head

Hombreras (Epaulets)

Chaleco (Vest)

Alamares (Ornaments)

Fajín (Sash)

Machos (Laces)

El traje de luces (The costume of the matador)

Literally, the lighting dress, called like that because it is covered with sequins in order to reflect the light. It is woven with silk. All the ornaments in the costume of the matador will be golden. Those on the dress of the subalternos (secondary bullfighters) will be silver.

Camisa (Shirt) in white color and ornamented

Corbatín (Thin tie) It is worn around the neck as a tie. It is either black or matching the sash

Chaquetilla (Jacket) It is decorated with different kinds of ornaments, like the alamares or the machos and also woven with golden or silver thread. It is very stiff. Below the armpits, two holes allow the arms of the matador to move the arms easily.

Taleguilla: A mixture of shorts and trousers which covers the bullfighter from his navel to below his knees. This garment is held with suspenders and tied around the calf of the bullfighter with the machos.

Medias (Socks): Always pink and made of silk. Below them the matador wears regular white cotton socks.

Zapatillas: Flat soled black shoes decorated with a lace.

Secondary bullfighers

Los subalternos (Secondary Bullfighters) Members of the team or troupe of the matador. Different names are given to them: peones (laborers), banderilleros, (harpooners) or toreros de plata (bullfighters in silver dress) because of their costume. Bullfighting rules do not allow them to use the muleta (scarlet cloth). The only tools allowed for them are the capotes (capes) and their bodies with the purpose of granting the safety of the main bullfighter. Many matadors call them guardian angels. A deep knowledge of the lidia and the behavior of the bull is a must for secondary bullfighters.

• - La cuadrilla: Is the team –or troupe- of the matador. In a normal corrida (those in which six bulls are killed by three matadors) every matador is assisted by two picadors and three secondary bullfighters.
• - In a mano a mano (a corrida in which only two matadors participate) the cuadrilla needs to be enlarged with an extra subalterno, to reach the four, and an extra picador, to reach three.
• In a corrida en solitario (with only one matador) the bullfighter needs to be assisted by two more cuadrillas apart from his own.
• - Mozo de espadas: Probably the most unknown actor of the bullfight, but an important one. He is the one who supports and helps the matador. His role consists in bringing the diestro all the tools he might need during the corrida (swords, cape, muleta, montera, or killing knife) from the callejón. He is also in charge of dressing the matador and organize his trips and those of the cuadrilla.

The picador

The role of this this armored rider with a pike is to test the courage of the bull. Secondarily he is supposed to wound the animal, so that the bull will be forced to gore with his head close to the ground, thus allowing the matador to eventually kill it. If the work of the picador is well done, the chances of the matador to have a good performance are increased. Every cuadrilla has two picadors. During the corrida, each of them will be in charge of one bull. While the picador de turno (the one wounding the bull at a given moment) works, the other one should be guarding the opposite gate in order to prevent any escape attempt from the bull. Picadors need to be strong courageous men, as well as expert riders and with a deep knowledge of bullfighting.

Peto (The armor of the horse)

It must cover and protect the whole body of the horse and weight at least 30 kilos. Nowadays it is made of kevlar. The legs of the horse are protected with stripes of the same material called manguitos. Before the corrida, the eyes of the horse are blinded with two patches. Otherwise the animal would be scared of the vicinity of the bull and run away.

Monosabio (Assistant)

His role is to assist the picador and the horse during the tercio the varas (fist stage of the fight). He helps him to ride on the horse, pushes while the bull is attacking to prevent rider and horse to fall and helps the picador to stand again if he is lying on the ground. Monosabios always wear a red or blue shirt and dark trousers.

La puya (Pointed Stick or Pike)

The length of the spear used by the picador is two meters. At the top of it there is a 29 mm triangle-shaped iron tip. A wooden block called cruceta prevents the puya to penetrate into the flesh of the bull deeper than it should.

Venda (Blindfold)

Peto (Armor)

Manguitos (Leg Covers)

The costume

Castoreño: Traditionally, the hat worn by the picador used to be crafted using beaver skin. Nowadays this material has been replaced by others, such as felt. The top of the castoreño is called moña and is made of black felt. The black stripe which prevents it from falling during the fight is called barboquejo.

Chaquetilla (Jacket). As well as the costume of the matadors, that of the picadors can be ornamented using golden sequins. This is a privilege inherited from ancient times, when picadors used to be as important as the diestros.

The mona and the gregoriana
Under the trousers picadors wear the mona –iron armor covering the right leg to protect if from the gores of the bull- and the gregoriana –protection on the left leg in case the rider is pushed against the barrera-.

Dragging mules

Usually they are adorned with flags, pompoms, stripes and sleigh bells. Once the matador has killed the bull, they drag the carcass out of the bullring commanded by a team of mulilleros (muleteers).

The duty of this people is not as easy as it might seem. Mules need to be trained beforehand because they are scared of the smell of the blood and the sight of the bull and, therefore, are naturally prone to run away. They also need to be taught how to gallop properly.

Dragging Protocol

Vuelta al ruedo: If the bull has shown unusual courage he is awarded to be dragged around the bullring after his death and receive the praise of the audience in the form of claps, instead of being directly pulled off. This honor is awarded by the president.

Arrastre lento (Slow Dragging) Another way to greet the death bull for his courage but less important than the vuelta al ruedo. In this case, the carcass of the bull is dragged slowly, so that the audience has the opportunity to clap.

Areneros (Sandmen)

They are in charge of keeping the sand that covers the ruedo in good conditions for the bullfight. During the paseíllo, they march together with the matadors and their cuadrilllas, although they are hired by the bullring. After each corrida they flatten the sand of the ruedo, remove tracks of blood, bull pat and horse dung.

The Sheriffs

They are the first actors to appear in the bullring riding their horses. They gallop around the ruedo to make sure everything is ready for the corrida to begin. After receiving permission from the president, they gallop back to the puerta de cuadrillas (Troupes Gate) and march at the front of the participants during the paseíllo. Alguacilillos are the authority in the ruedo. They give the keys of the puerta de toriles (Bullpen Gate) to the torilero –person in charge of opening it. During the fight they stay in the callejón and transmit the commandments of the president to the matadors and their cuadrillas.

Additionally at the end of each faena, they are responsible for cutting the ears and tails of the bull awarded by the president to successful bullfighters.

Costume

The costume of the alguacilillos is that sheriffs used to wear in Spain during the time of king Charles IV: black clothes, white collar, a short cape (jubón) and a hat decorated with a long plume. The color of the plume varies between bullrings. In Madrid it is yellow and red. In Seville, red and white. The collar can be flat –as in the times of Charles IV-or corrugated –as in times of Philiph III-. Since the XVIII century, alguacilillos also wear leader boots.