Being a bull in northern Spain is about to become a lot safer after the Catalonian government voted to bring to an end centuries of tradition and ban bullfighting.

Animal lovers may be celebrating, but in truth, like so many political decisions in this part of Spain, it has more to do with the Catalans taking another step towards independence from the rest of the country rather than any feelings of sympathy for the plight of the bull.

For it still has cross society support over much of the central and southern parts of the country where would be recruits continue to queue up to risk ‘Death in the Afternoon’. Here the taking part, the risking of life and limb, is still seen as the ultimate expression of being a man amongst men in a society where ‘machismo’ matters.

Although undoubtedly cruel, from the first drawing of blood the rules state the matador has up to 15 minutes to finally dispatch the bull, for many millions of Spaniards it is part of the very fabric of Spain.

Already in the capital, a petition calling for a vote against a ban there, has collected more than 50,000 signatures of support and Madrid’s regional government has declared the corrida, or bullfight protected as being integral to the city’s cultural heritage.

So, if animal welfare activists really do think they have turned acorner they should think again. Remember this is the same country that on January 23 every year in the town of Manganeses de la Polvorosa, Zamora, locals respect a time honoured tradition. They throw a goat from the top of the local Church tower – alive.