The Yawar Fiesta, a Ritual Fight Between the Condor and the Bull in Peru

COTABAMBAS, PERU - JULY 28: A captured Andean condor being washed before the Yawar Fiesta, a ritual fight between the condor and the bull, held in the mountains of Apurímac on 28 July 2012 in Cotabambas, Peru. The Yawar Fiesta (Feast of Blood), an indigenous tradition which dates back to the time of the conquest, consists basically of an extraordinary bullfight in which three protagonists take part - a wild condor, a wild bull and brave young men of the neighboring communities. The captured condor, a sacred bird venerated by the Indians, is tied in the back of the bull which is carefully selected for its strength and pugnacity. A condor symbolizes the native inhabitants of the Andes, while a bull symbolically represents the Spanish invaders. Young boys, chasing the fighting animals, wish to show their courage in front of the community. However, the Indians usually do not allow the animals to fight for a long time because death or harm of the condor is interpreted as a sign of misfortune to the community. (Photo by Jan Sochor/Latincontent/Getty Images)