Hunting is a popular pastime in rural Spain where Spanish Greyhounds “galgos” are used to flush game animals. Apparently this constitutes a summer holiday in Spain. There the horses are wrestled by weekend warriors who clips their manes, tails and brand them. One sunny afternoon in Galicia, drunk townsfolk chase herds of wild horses into village streets. That may not be far from the truth in this 400 year old tradition of terrorizing wild horses but it’s essentially a primitive form of our western rodeos. One might think “Rapa das Bestas” translates as “Beast Rape”. Apparently these townsfolk also just hate donkeys. The event allegedly reenacts the arrest of a town rapist who was caught and paraded through the streets on a donkey before his stoning execution. Donkeys often die of stress during the “fun” or are crushed and suffocated in the crowd. Those donkeys who fall are hoisted up to start over, until the end of the event the donkey is exhausted and locked in a shed. Fanatics yell and chant, slap and strike the animal, fire shotguns, explode firecrackers between his legs and beat him with cowbells. The donkey is dragged through the crowded streets while suffering all kinds of abuse long the way. Shockingly, this festival also involves drunk, sadistic Spaniards tormenting and torturing a helpless animal. In the mountains of western Spain, the small village of Villanueva de la Vera annually abuses not a bull but a donkey. ![]() “Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character and it may be confidently asserted that he who is cruel to animals cannot be a good man.” Arthur Schopenhauer The Pero Palo Festival in Villanueva de la Vera It’s not known what happens to them after the events.ĥ. They’re disoriented, taunted and terrified in the noise and chaos around them. The bulls, who are brought in from the countryside, stampede through the streets thanks to electric cattle prods. It’s considered one of the most important cultural events in Europe next to Oktoberfest. Despite hundreds of injuries every year this exuberantly stupid event continues to raise the ire of activists worldwide. Since then participants have been threatened with $15,000 dollar fines if they should attempt using a live goat for their “good times”.Įvery morning of the festival is another bull run. Thanks to animal rights groups, 2002 was the last time this small town got their goat. If the goat escaped death by falling, he was drowned in the town fountain. Meanwhile, the crowd below is allegedly supposed to catch him in a sheet. In Manganeses de la Polvorosa, on the fourth Sunday every January, young men throw an unfortunate goat from top of the church bell tower. Whoever thought this one up was one sadistic prick. San Vicente de Martir Festival in Manganeses de la Polyorosa The prize? A delicious dinner of juicy bull balls. When the bull finally collapses from blood loss or exhaustion, his testicles are cut off by the “winner”. Sometimes, if he’s lucky, he scores instant karma by goring and tossing deserving men high into the air. One by one the attackers torment and lance the bull as he tries to defend himself. ![]() A bull is chased through Tordesillas by a throng of spear packing men. This bloody festival must go back to the middle ages. We need a boundless ethic which will include the animals also.” Albert Schweitzer “The thinking man must oppose all cruel customs no matter how deeply rooted in tradition or surrounded by a halo. Regardless, progressive cities including Castrillón, Vedra, Dodro and Pobra do Brollónare are setting admirable new standards. ![]() The rise of global anti-bullfighting cities is encouraging though without much of a mandate to enforce the bans it remains to be seen how effective they’ll be. Business lobbyists will fight a ban to protect profit despite the “art’s” place in popular opinion. Despite international and national pressure, these brutal events continue due to the substantial spin-off business revenue. Obviously the most well-known tradition, few realize the blood sport is financed with public money. “Bullfighting is a stumbling block for the humanization of man.” Eduardo del Rio, Mexican Author Despite the growing popular opposition, these traditions are tenaciously hanging on in over 10,000 towns and villages who fight to protect their bloody heritage. Small town ignorance has a lot to do with these traditions persisting but the Spanish animal rights movement is gaining ground thanks to groups like Igualdad Animal and Anima Naturalis. Surprisingly, the Spanish government subsidizes many of these events as valuable “cultural” heritage. Deeply implanted in Spanish culture are some of the most offensive animal cruelty traditions known to modern man. Spain is renowned for its beauty and romantic character, but a long shadow lingers over this rich Mediterranean nation.
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