After two years of absence due to the coronavirus, the celebrations of Orthez (Pyrénées-Atlantiques) have been in full swing since this Friday July 22, and until Monday July 25 included. Among the activities on the program: an introduction to bullfighting games for the youngest. Between the ages of 4 and 14, around fifty children were able to discover or rediscover bullfighting and the Course Landaise through workshops this Saturday morning. This is the second time that these workshops have been organized, it is an opportunity, why not, to encourage vocations but also to pass on traditions.
Landes course and Spanish bullfighting on the menu
At the heart of the arena of Orthez are about fifty children, an army of little boys and little girls in the colors of the feria, dressed in red and white. Baptiste, in addition, is armed with a pink and yellow cape. He practices avoiding a small wooden bull. The workshop focuses on Spanish bullfighting culture and in particular the foundations of bullfighting. “You put the cape to the side, and you spin around when the bull rushes into the cape” explains the little boy. .
– Delphine Marion Boulle
A little further, Brandon tries his hand at the Landes race and the role of spacer : “there is someone pulling over there. The cow will try to knock the spreader down, and the other must turn the cow’s head, so that it deviates, so that it does not go on him”. In turn the children play the cow, the retractor and the jumper. To train well in Landes races, another workshop allows children to learn to dodge cows, they are represented by a huge ball, on which the child must learn to jump and recover correctly.
– Delphine Marion Boulle
Transmit passion, break down prejudices
Élodie has also brought her little ones, even if they already know all that inside out. Bullfighting, French and Spanish cultures are in the family’s DNA. However, these workshops make it possible to broaden the public and to transmit the traditions according to this mother. “This can allow children to have a passion for this sport. And so afterwards, we must also plan for future spreaders, future jumpers and also future matadors” explains Elodie, for whom these workshops also make it possible to break down some prejudices at a time when bullfighting games are a source of controversy.
For his part, Jacques Milhoua, one of the organizers, also a history teacher, recalls that these activities are local traditions. “who are more than two centuries old in Orthez, and from the Spanish point of view, a century all the same. It’s not new, these are traditional games”. The objective is to have fun therefore, but also for the oldest, the elders, the enthusiasts to do “discover to young people and we at least transmit curiosity. Afterwards, they like, they don’t like, they are free” says Jacques Milhoua.
– Delphine Marion Boulle
The highlight of the show was offered to children by bullfighting schools. They carried out demonstrations with a Landaise cow (photo above) and a young bull (video below) in support.
Full program of the Orthez festivals: Click here