What is the veronica pass in Spanish bullfighting?
In Spanish bullfighting, the veronica is a fundamental cape pass in which the matador holds the cape with both hands and swings it slowly away from the charging bull while keeping their feet stationary.12
Considered the basic maneuver from which nearly all other passes derive, the veronica is named after St. Veronica, who, according to Christian legend, held a cloth to wipe Christ’s brow as he passed by on the way to Golgotha.2
A series of these passes is typically concluded with a media-verónica, where the matador cuts the swing short to force the bull to turn quickly and come to a stop. The objective of the matador during these passes is to maintain grace and composure while working as close to the bull’s horns as possible to control the animal's charges.2