The "Espantes" party in Fuentesauco

This post is destined all those irish lads with whom I share country right now.

Today I want to talk you about a Spanish ancient tradition. Spain is well know for it´s bullfighters and other related traditions. The Espantes is another kind of bull-involving tradition. As far as I know this tradition is only being carried out in Fuentesauco, a small village in the province called Zamora.



The ritual takes place in the meadow of the village. This meadow is surounded by a fence so that animals can not scape. The day of the party on one side of the meadow are a group of bulls and oxens and a group of men riding horses and controlling those, while on the opposite side are the people. At a certain moment in time the riders drive the bulls and oxens towards the people, and at the same time people begin to run towards the flock. When both, people and animals, are close to collide, animals get scared and, helped by riders, turn back away from people. This process is repeated several times, until people and animals get tired. Almost every year in one of this aproaches some bulls refuse to turn back and, as you can imagine, really thrilling situations happend.



I can tell you by my own experience that runing towars a group of bulls is an absolutely exciting activity, but of course is not without danger. Some people have died, but i have to say that most of them were very drunk and dare too much.

I recommend you to go Fuentesauco and watch this exciting ritual, but better from one of the meadow fences, where you´ll be more secure. Besides, this is only one small part of the big big party that goes on during almost a week about the first week of July.