‘Lidia’ of the bull and its three thirds
The ‘corrida’ (bullfight), where the animal is fought, are divided into three parts called thirds.
- Third of ‘varas’ (sticks)
- Third of ‘banderillas’
- Third of death
During the first two thirds the matador uses the ‘capote’ (kinf of cloak, usually fuchsia and yellow) and in the last third he changes for the ‘muleta’ (the red cloth).
The beginning of the bullfights is determined by the hours of sunshine and is always specified in the posters of the festivities. The typical start time was 17:00. In the afternoon, but the schedule changes as the season goes on. The first fairs, in March, start at that hour. Then in April and May they are delayed until 18:00 or 19:00, and even begin at 20:00 in the middle of summer in very hot places as Seville. At the end of the season and the arrival of autumn, the start times are again ahead.
The duration of a bullfight can be very variable, although generally they are a couple of hours. But it can be reduced to an hour and a little if the fighting of each bull is short or prolonged in the case of extensive ‘faenas’, complications when killing the animal or that if leftover bulls are necessary.
The third changes are visible on the stage when the President of the day removes the white handkerchief and the clarinets sound. The bullfight of each bull is usually about 20 minutes, and the work of the ‘muleta’ has a maximum time of 10 minutes (established in the regulation). After that interval and if the bullfighter has not killed the bull, the first warning is given, also with the white handkerchief from presidency and the sound of the bugle. Then start three minutes until the next notice and two minutes more if a third party is necessary. At the third notice the animal is returned to the corral. This is very rare and the worst thing that can happen to a bullfighter, gourds apart.
Happy week ‘taurinos’!
