Today, bullfighting is not only a symbol of Spanish culture but also a popular sport in many parts of the world, including Venezuela, Ecuador, Portugal, and France. It’s a pretty straightforward but dangerous sport; a matador must subdue, immobilize, or kill a fierce bull in a physical contest held in an outdoor arena. However, today, we will focus on one intriguing fact about bullfighting: the use of red capes or muleta. Why do matadors prefer them? Does the color red make bulls angry? Keep reading to find out.
The Notion That The Color Red Makes Bulls Angry Is a Misconception
For a long time, there has been a common misconception that red clothing makes bulls angry. As such, many kids and some adults have been duped into avoiding wearing red shirts or trousers whenever they go near bulls. However, the color red does not make bulls angry. On the contrary, bulls are color-blind – they cannot differentiate red from other colors.
In the book Improving Animal Welfare (2009) by Temple Gardin, it is mentioned that cattle do not have red retina receptors. They can only see the colors blue, green, violet, and yellow. Human beings have three cones: one that detects blue, another that detects green, and the final one that dictates red. These cones often overlap, explaining why we can see additional colors like yellow.
On the other hand, bulls have two cones called dichromats, so they can only distinguish the blue and green colors. Bulls are similar to humans who suffer from protanopia, also known as red-color blindness.
With all these in mind, the color of the red cape that the matador uses, or any other color for that matter, has zero effect on the bull’s agitation or anger.
The Misconception’s Debunking By MythBusters
In 2007, the famous Discovery channel MythBusters, on their 85th episode titled “Red Rag to a Bull,” debunked this misconception. They strategically placed three colored flags, white, red, and blue, to see if the bull they were experimenting with would charge at any of them.
The producers also placed Torry Belleci, a television personality and one of the participants in the experiment, in the ring wearing a red jumpsuit. Two cowboys were tasked with attracting the bull’s attention. Surprisingly, the bull ran after the cowboys and completely ignored Torry. They concluded that the color red doesn’t really anger bulls.
So, Why Do the Bulls Charge at Matadors’ Red Capes or Muletas?
One of the few logical explanations as to why bulls charge at matadors’ red capes is the sudden movements. If you watch a bullfight closely, the matador frequently moves the red cape around, hoping to attract its attention.
The other possible reason is that the bulls used in these fights are bred in confined environments to make them more aggressive for entertainment. As such, these bulls charge at anything moving, whether a cape, an animal, or a human.
Since Bulls Can’t See Red, Why Do The Matadors Keep Using Red Capes?
This is more of a Spanish tradition than anything. Since bullfighting became popular in the 18th century, red has always been the go-to color for the capes or muletas. To continue with their tradition, the color had to remain. It’s similar to how various soccer/football teams have unique uniforms.
Additionally, bullfighting can be a bloody sport; the color red helps conceal the bull’s blood after it has been killed. Finally, red capes are perfect for hiding the matador’s sword.
Do Matadors Also Have to Wear Red?
Even though the muletas/capes are primarily red, matadors can freely choose the color of their attires. Usually, they prefer brown, pink, white, gold, blue, or red to match the color of the muletas. The other thing that may be observed from a matador’s outfit is their tight pants. Loose pants can easily be punctured by the bull’s horns, leading to severe injuries. Also, the tighter pants ensure the matador maintains flexibility even when attacked by the bull.
The Key Takeaway
The long and short of it is that red doesn’t infuriate bulls. As long as you’re safely barricaded behind the ring, you don’t have to worry about the bull charging in your direction. The most crucial thing is avoiding sudden movements with your body or clothes. Doing this will agitate the bull, and it may charge towards your direction.