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Magical Bullfights and Gaudi: Spain’s Unique Twist on the Harry Potter Universe

What would the Hogwarts here be called?

Magical Bullfights and Gaudi: Spain’s Unique Twist on the Harry Potter Universe
Randy Meeks

Randy Meeks

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When it comes to sports, Spain worships them. Football? The Red One. Tennis? Rafa Nadal. Formula 1? Fernando Alonso. Quidditch? Well… Among all the sporting glories that reign in our country, the one from the beloved sport of ‘Harry Potter’ may not be the most memorable. Could it be that you don’t know what we’re referring to? Are you unaware that apparently we have the only stadium located inside a bullring in our country? Come on, we’re going to tell you all about the unexpected national team… with a surprising twist at the end.

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Blood red and snitch yellow

It’s true that J.K. Rowling never mentioned the national team in any of the novels of the series. To learn more about Carmen, Iñigo, Sandelino, and the rest of the group, we have to turn to the video game ‘Quidditch World Cup’ from 2003, set in 1994 during ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,’ which featured teams from various countries: Australia, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Scandinavia, United States, and, of course, Spain.

The game developers didn’t exactly rack their brains: our stadium was a sort of bullring with architecture reminiscent of Gaudí on the roof, and it would ring church bells whenever a goal was scored. In fact, it is the only stadium in the world located indoors, setting it apart from the rest, of course.

The team’s emblem, as expected, features the standard of the Kingdom of Aragon, but with the addition of several golden Snitches and a Quaffle. Perhaps they didn’t give much thought to those who might be offended by this. The team, of course, wore red and yellow (like bullfighters, alas), and we only know the names of their competitors in the mid-90s. It’s enough to say that they could have done a better job with the Spanish names, at least getting some right.

The Chasers are Carmen García, Ana de Lebrón, and Chavelle Arbelo Cartaya (Chavelle, a typical Spanish name). The Beaters are Vasco Santini and Tiago Montoya, both of whom had trading cards in Chocolate Frogs, the Keeper is Sendelina Felino, and the Seeker is Iñigo Fuente Marrero. They all performed a special move that combined dance and bullfighting. Of course, they did.

But the surprise doesn’t end with the video games: there is also a national quidditch team in real life that was founded in 2015 for the European Games, where they finished ninth and only won one match. Whether you believe it or not, all of them come from different national teams such as Blue Gryffin Burgos, Madrid Lynch, Lumos Compostela, Gasteiz Gamusins, Bizkaia Boggarts, or Malaka Vikings. And yes, indeed, they continue to play (with even a transfer market), with the Dementors being the reigning champions. Consider us officially muggles for having no clue about it.

Randy Meeks

Randy Meeks

Editor specializing in pop culture who writes for websites, magazines, books, social networks, scripts, notebooks and napkins if there are no other places to write for you.

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