Bengal tigers (P. tigris tigris). The largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to 3.3 metres. Circus show during the Feria de Sevilla. Some view the use of tigers land other big cats in the circus ring as cruel and coercive. Others enjoy watching these feline giants at close quarters. The truth behind that is there is many animals endure cruelty for human entertainment. ..The Feria de abril de Sevilla, "Seville April Fair" dates back to 1847. During the 1920s, the feria reached its peak and became the spectacle that it is today. It is held in the Andalusian capital of Seville in Spain. The fair generally begins two weeks after the Semana Santa, Easter Holy Week. The fair officially begins at midnight on Monday, and runs six days, ending on the following Sunday. tiger bengal african indian elephant ivory cruelty circus performance animal performing spectacle obedience theatre fierce huge growl cat feline jungle habitat unnatural master ring subservience feria master whip three ferocious dangerous strong lovable

Watching the Bullfight. Tercio de varas. First stage of Spanish bullfight where picadors on horseback place banderillas, barbed sticks into the bulls back..Bullfighting in Sevilla's famous bullring "La Real Maestranza" is a significant part of the Feria de Abril..The Feria de abril de Sevilla, "Seville April Fair" dates back to 1847. During the 1920s, the feria reached its peak and became the spectacle that it is today. It is held in the Andalusian capital of Seville in Spain. The fair generally begins two weeks after the Semana Santa, Easter Holy Week. The fair officially begins at midnight on Monday, and runs six days, ending on the following Sunday. Each day the fiesta begins with the parade of carriages and riders, at midday, carrying Seville's citizens to the bullring, La Real Maestranza. Seville. Andalusia. Spain...Blood sport ending in the killing of a bull in front of thousands of spectators. An entertainment and tradition derived from the ancient gladiatorial spectacles of Roman times. This activity is loved and defended by 'affecionados' who see the artistry and traditions whilst it is detested by animal rights activists, environmentalist and ecologists for its cruelty to animals seville sevilla bullfighting toromachia tauromachy feria andalusia andalucian romero curro real maestranza abril traditions culture crowd onlooker sport bloodsport gladiators horse bull death flamenca flamenco dress rain dry wet matador picador banderilleros icecream eating umbrella

Riders, men and women dress up in their finery, the traditional "traje corto" (short jacket, tight trousers and boots) for men and the "faralaes" or "trajes de flamenca" (flamenco style dress) for women. The men traditionally wear hats called "cordobés"...The Feria de abril de Sevilla, "Seville April Fair" dates back to 1847. During the 1920s, the feria reached its peak and became the spectacle that it is today. It is held in the Andalusian capital of Seville in Spain. The fair generally begins two weeks after the Semana Santa, Easter Holy Week. The fair officially begins at midnight on Monday, and runs six days, ending on the following Sunday. Each day the fiesta begins with the parade of carriages and riders, at midday, carrying Seville's citizens to the bullring, La Real Maestranza...For the duration of the fair, the fairgrounds and a vast area on the far bank of the Guadalquivir River are covered in rows of casetas (individual decorated marquee tents which are temporarily built on the fairground). Some of these casetas belong to the prominent families of Seville, some to groups of friends, clubs, trade associations or political parties. From around nine at night until six or seven the following morning, at first in the streets and later only within each caseta, crowds of people party and dance Sevillanas, traditional Flamenco dances, Sevillan style drinking Jerez sherry, or Manzanilla wine, and eating tapas. feria abril sevilla seville espagne andalusia andalucia fiesta spring primavera festival traditions spanish andalusian horses flamenco frilly dresses pretty girls casetas manzanilla sherry easter music dance springtime printemps corte traje flamenca botas fairground children party

Semana Santa de Sevilla, Catholic Holy Week from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, is one of the most important traditional, cultural and spiritual events in Seville. The origins of the penitential Holy Week in Seville are to be found in the late Middle Ages. At the heart of Semana Santa are the brotherhoods (Hermandades y Cofradias de Penitencia). At the centre of each procession are the pasos, an image or set of images set atop a movable float of wood. When a brotherhood has three pasos, the first one would be a sculpted scene of the Passion or an allegorical scene, known as a misterio (mystery); the second an image of Christ and the third an image of the Virgin Mary known as a dolorosa. Many sculptures are of great antiquity and considered artistic masterpieces. A total of 60 penitential processions are organized by hermandades and cofradías, religious brotherhoods. Members precede the pasos dressed in penitential robes and hoods. Sometimes accompanied by brass bands. They take designated routes from home churches and chapels to the Cathedral and back again. Improvised flamenco songs "saetas" are sung to the processions from balconies. The marchers are often accompanied by brass bands, cappella choirs, or a drum and trumpet (historical traditions for a poorer neighborhood) Semana Santa Easter Holy Week Sevilla Seville Catholic christian hermandad brotherhood religion andalusia andalucia tourism primavera springtime cult passion jesus madonna virgin penitencia cofradias easter processions pasos flamenco traditions culture misterio dolarosa float manifestations

El Rocio Andalusia Spain. The pilgrim route of the Hermandade de Sanlucar de Barrameda from Sanlucar across the Parque Donana to El Rocio, Huelva Province, Andalusia, Spain...El Rocio follows on from Semana Santa - Easter week and the various spring ferias, of which Seville's Feria de Abril (April) is the biggest. The processions to the (Hermitage) Hermita de El Rocío, at Pentecost, is the most famous (Romeria) pilgrimage in the Andalusian region, attracting nearly a million people from across Andalusia, Spain and the world. The cult started off in the 13th century when a statue of the virgin Mary was apparently found in a tree trunk in the Donana Park. What was first a local devotion at Pentecost by local pilgrim brotherhoods "hermandades" became by the 19th century into dozens of fraternities developed from such as Cadiz, Selville and Huelva. Some walk for several days, others travel with oxen drawn wagons or on horseback, with traction engines and all terrain vehicles, camping along the trail they take. They wear Andalusian costumes, tight breeches, boots, short jackets and frilly flamenco skirts. Many festivities, flamenco dance, laments, songs and music are combined with religious prayers. Devout pilgrims walk as a penance, keeping vows of silence. An emblem of the immaculate conception (sin peche) is carried. On the Pentecost after the stroke of midnight on the whit Sunday the virgin Mary is carried from the church through the streets of El Rocio by each hermandade to visit each brotherhood's shrine.