Curious customs and traditions of Spain. We tell you! Are you curious about the customs and traditions of Spain? In this post we are going to go into this in depth. After reading it you will have a great knowledge of Spanish culture and you will know us much better. 😁 Let's get started! Gastronomy and
Are you curious about the customs and traditions from Spain?
In this post we are going to go into this in depth. After reading it you will have a great knowledge of spanish culture and you will know us much better. 😁
Let's start!
There are many Spanish customs.
Let's start talking about them with food.
The Spanish gastronomy It is quite varied.
Whether in the south, the north, the center or the coast you will find different delicious dishes.
Although if something defined the spanish food, it would be the Mediterranean diet.
The Mediterranean diet comes from the regions that are located on the banks of the mediterranean sea: Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus…
Do you know that it is considered as one of the healthiest diets of the world?
Now I'll tell you why.
It's so healthy because foods that make it up.
Many types of vegetables, fruits, meats, legumes, nuts, fish and dairy products are some of the main foods.
Shall we make a lettuce and arugula salad with tomato, onion, tuna and goat cheese?
Oh, and don't forget to season it with olive oil, our main condiment. 😋
It is a custom of Spain and the Spanish use the olive oil for frying and cooking.
And when do you eat in Spain?
In Spain we have four main meals a day.
Do they seem like a lot to you?
You can get an idea of what the Spanish are like: Quite gluttons! 😄
Although the truth is that many people only do 3 meals a day.
The breakfast in Spain is from 7.00 to 8.00 in the morning, just before going to work.
Would you like a coffee with milk and some tomato toast with oil?
Sounds delicious, right?
For many Spaniards, it is common to take a break in the middle of the morning, between 10:00 and 11:00, to regain strength with some fruit, some nuts or a sandwich.
There are some who even dare to have a good sandwich!
Do you know the difference between a sandwich and a sandwich?
It's simply the bread:
In the sandwich there is square bread.
The sandwich has bread cut from a loaf of bread.
Mealtime in Spain is usually from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m..
It depends on the work schedule.
There are people who even eat at 3 p.m.
Late in the afternoon, when leaving work or class, many Spaniards like to have something to eat; It could be a fruit, some toast, some nuts...
What time do you have a snack in Spain?
It is usually at 5 or 6 p.m. of the afternoon.
I remember that when I was little and leaving school, I loved coming home and having a glass of milk with chocolate cookies.
It was my reward after a long day of study💪.
Dinner time in Spain is between 9:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m..
And yes, I know you're thinking thatwe had dinner very late and that this is one of the rarest traditions that we have.
I have tried to have dinner before many times and I really can't.
Old habits are very difficult to change.
The after-dinner meal is the time of rest after eating or for dinner.
During this time it is common to talk with your table companions about how the day went with a coffee in hand. Very important in the culture of Spain.
In the holidays or non-labor, the after-dinner meal can last up to an hour… Or more!
You know, we love to talk. 😁
Chat peacefully over the table or go crazy with friends They are some of the most enjoyable Spanish customs.
You'll see!
And what comes after dinner?
Well a good nap
The spanish tradition par excellence.
Between 3 and 4 p.m., Spaniards relax on the sofa at home, take the opportunity to watch a little TV or read a few pages of a book and, suddenly, fall asleep.
It cannot be avoided, whoever is at home at that time has a very high probability of sleep the spanish nap.
How long?
Generally not much, The ideal is between 30 or 40 minutes.
Although once you are inside, it is difficult to leave and it can take up to an hour. 😴
After talk about food and naps,It is time for a little activity and one of the most beautiful traditions in Spain that we have: The Camino de Santiago.
The Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage trip until the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia.
You can start from practically anywhere, although the most common route is in the north.
People from all over the world and people of all ages venture to make this pilgrimage walking, sleeping in shelters and meeting new people along the way.
All the people who do it end up delighted, they say that it changes their life.
And you? Do you dare to do this challenge?
Some of the routes of the Camino de Santiago are the following:
Valencia It has many interesting things to see and do.
The Fallas of Valencia It is one of the main ones.
I am not exaggerating if I tell you that it is one of the celebrations of Spain most popular.
It has become a world event.
Every year more and more people come from all over the world to live this experience.
The Fallas of Valencia take place between March 15 and 19.
Although before the 15th there are already some celebrations such as the mascletà or street parties.
The 15th is the official beginning of the Fallas because that is when the Fallas are planted and the ninots in the streets.
On the 19th, Saint Joseph's Day, the Fallas burn and this celebration is concluded.
The Fallas are sculptures composed of those already mentioned ninots.
The ninots They are dolls made of cardboard, cork, wood and other materials.
These faults are usually satirical: They deal with a current topic with great humor, make fun of politicians or criticize the society in which we live.
some too They are very experimental, considered contemporary art.
Others are just huge and beautiful, who seek to impact people through the beauty of their sculptures and their colors.
The March 19 they burn, referring to the ancient carpenters who burned wood in the street as a rite to usher in spring.
Without a doubt, the Fallas are one of the interesting things about Spain that you cannot miss.
We continue with more festivals and traditions of Spain.
You love this topic, don't you?
The parties of San Fermin in Pamplona are among the most famous in Spainand attract thousands of tourists from all over the world every year.
It happens between July 7 and 14.
Does it sound familiar to you to see people with white clothes and a red scarf?
That is the traditional clothing of the Sanfermines.
The main event of this festival are the Running of the Bulls.
Through very narrow streets people run... chased by some! bulls!
Only the bravest enter Los Encierros, since as you can imagine, it can be quite dangerous.
This route of the Bulls ends in the bullring, where people continue running and dodging the bulls in a larger space.
These bullfighting festivals They have a long history and it is one of the typical things in Spain.
They are not only limited to the Sanfermines.
Practically throughout the year you will have the opportunity to see bullfights.
bullfights take place in the bullrings.
There are a bullfighter with his classic clothing, the suit of lights, who fights the bull and performs a series of actions called fight the bull.
In a bullfight you usually fight six brave bulls and it is common for three bullfighters to participate and each bullfighter fights two bulls together with their respective groups made up of banderilleros and picadors.
There are also the bullfighting which is when the bullfight is carried out on horseback.
In bullfights people do not participate like in the San Fermín running of the bulls, but rather enjoy the spectacle as spectators.
There are various schedules.
In march They usually start at 17 pm.
From here on, the schedule is delayed until 7 p.m. in August.
In autumn it is moved forward again until 6pm.
The bullfighting season starts in February and ends in October.
Holy Week is a religious celebration which takes place throughout the country.
The Holy Week in Spain It is usually in the month of april, although sometimes it has been in March. It is not always on the same days of the month.
The days in which it takes place are the following:
The Thursday and Good Friday They are national holidays.
In the Valencian Community and Catalonia It is also a holiday on the Monday following Easter Sunday, Easter Monday. 😁
In processions, people make a parade through the streets, showing his religious belief.
Some people carry all kinds of objects representative of the Christian faith and images, sculptures that represent Jesus and others. important biblical figures.
The people who wear them are called costaleros.
These parades are done by brotherhoods.
The typical clothing of the people who participate in these parades is the tunic, cape and hood.
There are processions throughout Spain, although where they have the most presence is in Andalusia.
Another great important festival in this region is the Seville April Fair.
If you like flamenco, you will enjoy it a lot.
The music used to accompany processions is called marches.
They are funeral music that try to convey the sadness and solemnity of the death of Christ.
To achieve these emotions, the drums and bass drum.
Although there are also other instruments such as the cornet, the heraldry or the rattle.
And finally, we are going to talk about one of the favorite times of the year for many people: Christmas.
I am going to tell you the main customs and traditions of Christmas in Spain.
Christmas has a special charm that fascinates everyone, don't you think?
The illuminated streets, the Christmas trees, the gifts, the Christmas carols, the street fairs...
There are several important days in the Christmas in Valencia and in Spain, I'll tell you:
So, as you can see, we Spaniards like to spend time with family at Christmas, and eat... eat A LOT.
What do you eat?
Well, the traditional foods are seafood, lamb and sweets, nougats and Polvorones.
If you spend Christmas in Spain and gain a few pounds, it is totally normal. 😅
And to drink?
At the end of the meal, it is customary to toast with cider, cava or champagne to wish happy holidays to the table participants.
There is also space for creativity and crafts at Christmas.
It is typical of Spain that many families ride the Bethlehem in the living rooms of their homes.
The Bethlehem represents the birth of Jesus in the city of Bethlehem.
The figures that cannot be missed are:
There are nativity scenes of all types and sizes.
In Valencia, they usually have exhibitions of some really big and impressive ones.
Another ancient and most important tradition is eat 12 grapes at the end of the year.
You must eat one grape for each bell ringing before midnight on January 1st.
You have to eat twelve grapes in twelve seconds!
Imagine the look on people's faces with the 12 grapes in their mouths, it's very funny. 😂
However, it is one of the most deeply rooted customs in Spain.
Why do we spend the last bells with grapes?
It is a tradition that it's lucky, so we make sure to enter the new year in the best possible way.
Another Spanish superstition on New Year's Eve is wearing red underwear, it also brings good luck!
I mentioned before that the January 6 it's the day of Three Wise Men.
Their names are Melchior, Gaspar and Baltasar. Surely you have seen them in some image. They ride camels, wear crowns and very colorful clothing.
They really look like wizards from a Disney story.
According to the Gospel of Matthew, these 3 wise men went from the East to Bethlehem to render tribute to the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, giving him valuable gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Did you know that the Three Wise Men Do they still come to Spain to leave gifts for the children?
On January 5 is celebrated the arrival of the Three Wise Menwith parades throughout the country, throwing candy to everyone.
It is a very beautiful and fun moment. Attending this parade is one of the typical Spanish things you have to do.
In the night of the 5th, the children leave some food and water for the Kings and their camels, as a thank you for bringing them gifts from so far away.
the day January 6 He is the most loved by Spanish children.
They finally receive their long-awaited gifts from kings.
And how do kings know what each child wants?
Because the children had written them a letter previously indicating the gifts they wanted.
Of course, the typical food of Three Kings Day: the Roscón de Reyes.
It is a sweet bun that has chocolate or cream inside, decorated with candied fruit.
Inside there are two surprises: a figurine of a king and a bean.
If you have the king in your piece of roscón, congratulations!
It means that you will have good luck and everyone at the table should treat you like a king. 👑
On the contrary, if you get the bean you will have to pay for the roscón yourself.
Isn't that exciting?
Choose your piece of Roscón well. 😁
As you see, heChristmas in Spain It is very important and is celebrated with the family for many days.
It is also the same in our school: Hispania, Spanish school.
At Christmas time, in our spanish courses We do many activities related to Christmas:
If you come to our school, you are going to learn Spanish in Valencia with very good company and you will never feel alone.
You can see the Christmas spirit of Hispania, Spanish school in the following video.
A big hug!
Article written by Charles Martinez for Hispania, Spanish school
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