The Running Of The Bulls — Not Restricted To Iberia

(If you must have politics, please scroll down)

The Running of the Bulls — a nine-day event typically associated with Pamplona, Spain, and the Festival of San Fermín, but held elsewhere, too — dates back to at least the 14th Century. Record-keeping about the Pamplona event began in 1910.

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Because there is no end to the strange things that human beings will do, here in the United States we have The Great Bull Run, advertised with phrases such as "party like Pamplona," "grab life by the horns," and "you've never had this much fun."  See the map HERE.  Maybe you can participate: The Great Bull Run may be coming to a location near you.

This year, on August 24, the Virginia Motorsports Park in Petersburg, Virginia, will host its version of The Great Bull Run.  Some 5,000 runners have signed up.  The Virginia Running of the Bulls differs in some respects from that of Pamplona's version.  For one thing, the event is only one day long.  For another:

After Pamplona's running of the bulls, they kill the animals in a bull fight, but that will not be the case at the U.S. events.

In fact, he says, there is a veterinarian on site at all times to make sure the bulls are healthy and are treated properly.

The origin of The Running of the Bulls had purpose: driving cattle to sell them at the market and, later, to tire out the bulls for a "safer" bullfight held the afternoon of the same day. About the history of bullfighting:

The event of bullfighting originated in Spain during the Spanish War of Reconquest from 711 to 1492 A.D. In this war between the Moors and Christians, each side created hunting competitions to rest from battling one another. Basically, the Moors and Christians would go from killing each other to competing with each other....

Nobles captured as many Iberian bulls as they could and took them back to their villages to recreate these hunts in front of spectators. The first official bullfight (or corrida) took place at Vera, Logrono in 1133 in honor of the coronation of King Alfonso VIII.

Bullfighting became a serious event after the coronation of King Alfonso VIII. Bullfights took place at almost any kind of celebration or public gathering, even after the Spanish War of Reconquest was complete. Christians used bullfighting as an outlet to demonstrate their defeat of the Moors....

Now, in the 21st Century, people sign up for the fun of racing ahead of charging bulls and proving their courage. Or something.

As I said above, there is no end to the strange things that human beings will do!