We demand a San Mateo that celebrates life, not death

Each year, the San Mateo festivities in Logroño bring an ethical conflict between the celebration of life and the unnecessary death of animals in bullrings. AnimaNaturalis and CAS International call for the abolition of bullfights and the promotion of cruelty-free festivities.

23 septiembre 2024
Logroño, España.

Amidst the joy and celebrations of the grape harvest and San Mateo, critical voices rise questioning the continuation of bullfighting, a spectacle that many believe no longer fits in a society progressing towards greater ethical awareness. This year, AnimaNaturalis and CAS International have once again protested in Logroño’s Plaza del Mercado, demanding an end to bullfights, an event that stains the festivities with blood and cruelty.

"The grape harvest is a time to celebrate life, work, and community. There is no room for torture and death in this context," said Inma de Imaña, coordinator of AnimaNaturalis in La Rioja. This opinion reflects a stance increasingly shared by a significant portion of the Spanish population. According to data from a BBVA Foundation study in 2022, almost 80% of Spaniards oppose the use of animals in bullfighting, a figure that highlights the growing rejection of such spectacles.

Despite this, bullfights remain a central event in the San Mateo festivities. Nationally, Spain, along with France and Portugal, is one of the few European countries where bullfighting remains legal, despite its visibly declining popularity. The Ministry of Culture’s Cultural Statistics Yearbook indicates that bullfights in Spanish arenas dropped from 2,684 in 2009 to 1,425 in 2019, showing a clear downward trend. In La Rioja, 52 bullfighting events involving the death of the animal were held in 2008, while by 2023, the number had dropped to 25, almost half.

The Popular Legislative Initiative: #NoEsMiCultura

This year marked a milestone in the fight for the abolition of bullfighting with the introduction of the Popular Legislative Initiative (PLI) #NoEsMiCultura, spearheaded by AnimaNaturalis and other organizations. The goal is to collect 500,000 signatures to repeal Law 18/2013, which declares bullfighting as cultural heritage. Eliminating this protection would return the power to regional and local governments to ban these cruel practices.

"Despite legal obstacles, we are convinced that the PLI #NoEsMiCultura will succeed in repealing the declaration of bullfighting as cultural heritage," says Inma de Imaña. Bullfighting has survived thanks to a combination of institutional support and public subsidies that cover the financial deficits of many bullrings. In cities like Logroño, spending on bullfights exceeds 240,000 euros per event, and without the economic support of city councils, this "business" would be unsustainable.

Public subsidies are, without a doubt, the lifeline for most bullrings in La Rioja, where the business's profitability is scarce, and the costs are exorbitant. In municipalities like Alfaro and Haro, bullfighting events would not be possible without the backing of local institutions, which allocate thousands of euros in public money to keep this tradition alive. However, more and more voices are questioning the legitimacy of these subsidies, especially in times of economic crisis, when the priority should be the well-being of citizens.

Bullfighting defenders argue that these festivities are part of the cultural identity and a source of entertainment for many people in La Rioja. However, the constant decline in attendance and the growing social rejection of animal abuse have reduced demand at the box office, making the dependency on public funds even more evident. This adds to the difficulties in marketing the meat from the bulls, generating more expenses for entrepreneurs, who, in many cases, end up with losses at the end of the season.

In response to this situation, some towns are opting for more modest events or even seeking less costly alternatives to traditional bullfights. In places like Nájera and Rincón de Soto, non-picador bullfights and subsidized festivals are presented as more viable solutions. Nonetheless, the debate on the sustainability and appropriateness of financing a publicly funded activity that has ever-decreasing public support remains, and it will continue to be a topic of controversy in the region.

The only solution is the end of bullfighting

The vision of AnimaNaturalis is clear: a San Mateo festival without bullfights is possible, and society is more than ready for it. "The festivities can be celebrated without animal cruelty. More and more people understand that violence against animals has no place in a society that aspires to be compassionate and just," says Aïda Gascón, director of AnimaNaturalis in Spain.

The data speaks for itself: a recent Ipsos I&O Public study, conducted for CAS International, revealed that 77% of respondents in Spain, France, and Portugal believe that bullfighting causes too much suffering to animals, and only 11% see it as an entertaining practice. This growing sensitivity toward animal welfare shows that culture and tradition can evolve towards more ethical and responsible forms of celebration.

"Scientific evidence and animal welfare regulations should be enough to open an unavoidable debate about the continuation of bullfights," adds Gascón. As social pressure mounts and support for bullfighting dwindles, bullfights are increasingly seen as an anachronism in a country facing the challenge of cultural modernization.

AnimaNaturalis continues to work towards ensuring that the last bull in Logroño and across Spain remains alive. The organization invites everyone to join the fight by signing the PLI #NoEsMiCultura, supporting the end of subsidies for bullfights, and participating in actions that promote more compassionate celebrations. Only through collective commitment can we leave behind a tradition based on violence and move towards a fairer society for all, humans and animals alike.