But in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina where they take place, these "games" are anything but fun for the actual oxen themselves.Starting around February, and continuing until Easter,At these festivals, the bull — unwittingly and unwillingly — is cast as Judas who has betrayed Jesus and thus he must be punished. For a few days before, the bull is confined and deprived of food. Often the food is kept right out of its reach to provoke a kind of crazed behavior.The torture can last for up to three days and only ends when the bull has been thoroughly exhausted and is finally put out of its misery. In some cases, in order to dispatch the poor beast, festival goers hack off its limbs or even set it aflame.While Brazil has animal cruelty laws, and the festival has technically been banned since the late 90s, Santa Catarina state officials have refused to crack down on the inhumane and illegal event. That needs to change.We must act fast to and tell the governor that this festival must end.