Carnaval del Toro

Carnaval del Toro Carnaval del Toro

This carnival is closely related to the world of bullfighting(corridas).

Duringthe5daysofthisCarnaval,theinhabitants of Ciudad Rodrigo (Salamanca, Spain) live for bullfights. Running of the bulls, capeas, returning of the bulls and novilladas. There is an institution called “Bolsín Taurino” whose mission is to seek out promising talents among the maletillas (young people who aspire to be bullfighters/toreadors). They have reinstated the running of the bulls led by riders on horseback andthereisa“PeñadelCaballo”orhorseclub.

Carnaval del Toro Carnaval del Toro

ORIGIN

ThisistheoldestcarnivalinSpain,whoseoriginsdatebacktothe pagancelebrationsthattookplaceattheendofwinter Thisiswhy this festival always takes place in February or March, before the preparatory period of Lent begins, with its corresponding renunciationsandsacrifices

The resurgence of carnivals in different parts of Spain was particularly evident in the early 1980s after Franco's dictatorship. However, there is evidence in the historical archives of Ciudad Rodrigo that bullfighting was already taking place in this town in 1417, and that in 1493 the cost of the festivities was described as excessive This fully justifies the passion for bullfighting that has been present in Ciudad Rodrigo since ancient times. For this reason,theTownCouncilisnowfocusingallitseffortsonensuring that this fiesta has even more media coverage - together with its proven antiquity, tradition and continuity over time - and obtains recognition as a Fiesta of International Tourist Interest, after the recognitionitobtainedasaNationalFiestain1980

Interest in Carnival has crossed our borders and many people come to Ciudad Rodrigo, a small town in Salamanca, to enjoy the bullfighting, the “charangas”, the “peñas”, the costumed parades andtheextraordinaryatmosphereinthestreets Infigures,Ciudad Rodrigo attracts an average of 20,000 people a day, which increasesto40,000onthemaindayofthefestivalonSunday

ORGANIZATION

During the months leading up to this fiesta, the “mirobrigenses”, people from Ciudad Rodrigo, are enthusiasticaboutthepreparations.The“BolsínTaurino”,BullfightingCompetition,holdsits“tientas”,where the “maletillas”, apprentice bullfighters, are given the opportunity to win the chance to fight a bull The election of the Carnival Queen and Ladies of Honour, the pilgrimage of San Blas and the preparation of costumesandfloatsaresomeofthepreviousstepsforafestivalthatislivedwithintensity

A unique bullring - made entirely of wood and rectangular in shape - is built in the main square, and the routeofthebullsisclosedoffwith“agujas”,ametalorwoodenfence

The “encierros”, or running of the bulls, in which the runners are punctually warned by the big bell of the TownHall,regularlymarktheschedulesoflocalsandstrangerswhocannot,andshouldnot,forgetthemain protagonist of the fiesta, the bull. The highlight is the spectacular Running of the Bulls on Horseback on CarnivalSunday,inwhichexperthorsemenandbullfightersleadthebullsfromtheneighbouringpasturesto thetown.

The programme includes a series of street performances, costumes, parades, “charangas” and “peñas”, so that the city is transformed during these days into a bullfighting and bustling “fiesta”, amidst an extraordinarystreetanimation

Costumes, Peñas and the fair

At carnival, a lot of people wear costumes, and some of them are amazing. On Saturday, the Town Hall organises a costume contest, and all the Peñas can participate (Peñas are groups of people or friends sharing a common enthusiasm for the fiestas).

The fair is another important aspect of the carnival.

The amusement rides arrive in Ciudad Rodrigo 1 or 2 weeks before the carnival starts. There are a lot of rides but the most popular ones are: The Bumping cars, El Giga Canguro and The ship.

There are also food stands, and some other stands with different games, like the one with balloons where you can throw darts and if you hit all the balloons you win a prize.

el campanazo

On Friday, the first day of the fiestas, people get together at 6 o’clock in the main square. Everybody wears orange neckerchiefs. Music is played by the charangas and orange balloons are released to the sky. The bell starts ringing and that’s the start of Carnival!!!

toro de cenizos

On Tuesday evening, the last day of the fiestas,an orange bull made of paper and cardboard is burned. There is a fireworks display, and then people can ask for cenizos, which means that people would like the following day, Miércoles de Ceniza (Ash Wednesday) to be an extra Carnival day.