I've wondered about that myself. It may have had to do with the ways cultures have developed, region-wise, in Iberia. This is why in many aspects I think of Spain more as "Las Españas." Can anyone comment as to whether this regionalism exists in the Br Isles?
In the Americas, Colombian cities like Medellin, Cali, and Bogota, have bullfights. Not so, I've been told in other areas of that country, though I understand there r diff versions of rodeos (also a Spanish institution), found as well in many Latin American countries. There r also bullfights in Mexico (Mexico City and Tijuana), Peru, and...
BTW, not that it has to do with the subject at hand, well, a little bit...I just finished reading the latest Isabel Allende novel, "Ines of my soul." It's excellent :!: The book is about a historic "conquistadora" that went from Spain to Peru looking for her huband in the 1500's, continuing to become an important figure in the creation of what eventually became SANTIAGO de Chile. Towards the end, there's an interesting section that illustrates the well-documented belief that St. James miraculously appeared and guided the conquistadores to victory, to the cry of "A por Santiago :!: ". I believe it translated well into English.
xm 8)