Awash with monuments, landmarks and statues, Santa Cruz is no slouch when it comes to celebrating its rich cultural history. But one of the most endearing (and forgotten corners) of our past has been sadly overlooked. Until now. Fortunately, a historical society has stepped forward to right this error. Last month, “El Viceroy Marques de Branciforte Chapter 1797” dedicated a monument and bronze plaque to commemorate a bull and bear fighting ring once located where San Lorenzo Park now exists.
Awash with monuments, landmarks and statues, Santa Cruz is no slouch when it comes to celebrating its rich cultural history. But one of the most endearing (and forgotten corners) of our past has been sadly overlooked. Until now. Fortunately, a historical society has stepped forward to right this error. Last month, “El Viceroy Marques de Branciforte Chapter 1797” dedicated a monument and bronze plaque to commemorate a bull and bear fighting ring once located where San Lorenzo Park now exists.
Perhaps it is not too late to correct a tiny error on the history buffs’ plaque. The correct term (used since Elizabethan times) for that latter blood sport is “bear-baiting.” The excitement begins when a bear is chained to a stake in the middle of the ring. Dogs are loosed upon the bear which, by the way, has had its teeth and claws removed. Without anesthesia. All bets are on to see who will win—the pack of dogs who must latch on to the bear’s nose and mouth and drag it to the ground, or a bear with no way to defend itself that can still stand after having its face ripped to shreds. The British abolished this form of entertainment in 1835. We Americans refuse to be robbed of our fun, however; bear-baiting is still legal in South Carolina.
For those who consider bear-baiting just a bit too lowbrow for their viewing pleasure, perhaps bullfighting offers more appeal. Matadors train for years, decades, before they are allowed in the ring. Using both athletic prowess and artistic grace, the bullfighter stabs his opponent repeatedly with a flourish of brightly colored banderillas (barbed swords) until the poor beast keels over and dies. Bullfighting might also be a bit of a misnomer. A professional fight usually involves a certain amount of suspense about who will win.
Perhaps other states will realize they have been remiss in honoring their quirky traditions and cultural heritage. Hey, Michael Vick! I think I see a commemorative plaque headed your way.
Kelly Luker owns Little Pup Lodge (www.littlepuplodge.com), a cage-free boarding facility exclusively for small dogs. Her favorite bumper sticker reads: “Choose one: a) be kind to animals b) burn in hell.”
