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Why might a matador receive one ear, two ears, or a tail after a bullfight?
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bullfighting
Spanish matador El Juli engaging a bull, June 6, 2010, Barcelona.
In the context of a bullfight, the awarding of ears and the tail serves as a token of popular esteem for a matador's performance. These honors are granted based on the quality of the matador's work in the ring:1
- One ear: Awarded if the matador's performance was very good.1
- Two ears: Awarded if the performance was considered superb.1
- Two ears and the tail: Awarded if the performance was spectacular.1
These awards are determined by the president of the bullfight, often in response to the crowd's reaction and petitions for recognition of the matador's skill and mastery of the animal.1