The Spanish, heirs to a culture that mixes various religions and ideologies, have developed a very hospitable, open and cordial nature. One of their most characteristic cultural features is their sense of regionalism in fighting to preserve their traditions and history with passion and a sense of solidarity. Each community, province and city retains habits and customs from bygone ages. This desire to retain the past is reflected in the preservation of its historic heritage.
In Spain, the custom of taking a break during the working day to eat at home with the family, normally between
14:00 and 16:00, is commonplace. Spaniards particularly enjoy hearty, well-seasoned food. Lunches tend to be substantial, with a wide variety of dishes, and this may very often explain the siesta.
Dinner is at around 22:00, and nightlife is lively and reflects the boisterous side of the Spanish character.
Since they spend a great deal of time outdoors, Spaniards have developed a fluent and open capacity to speak, and people tend to talk quickly, though there is no hurry and the tone is usually urgent without indicating superiority, displeasure or distance. Spaniards are direct and expressive in their opinions and judgments.
The Spanish taste for tobacco tends to surprise visitors, as it is one of the countries where smoking is more common and least controlled. Nonetheless, there are more and more restrictions on where you can smoke and a total ban on smoking has now been introduced in some places, especially in public buildings and transport.
The Spanish have developed a collective spirit full of freedoms and free will, perhaps because they lived under a dictatorship for so long.
Spaniards generally have a sense of humour, joking is a favourite pastime, and there is a great capacity to laugh at oneself. They are particularly curious about the private life of well know figures in society, such as artists, actors, singers and figures in the fashion world. This special interest has given rise to a significant publishing and electronic industry devoted to local and international celebrities.
The Spanish people are proud and enthusiastic to have their King and Queen as Heads of State and this sense of pride goes way beyond any laws instituting the monarchy. Their admiration and profound respect for their King and Queen is today an
unmistakable feature of what it means to be Spanish. The Spanish people also take an interest in the daily life of their King and Queen, the prince and the princesses.
Text last edited on:06/2005
Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
Reproduction is authorised.
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