Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Fun Facts about Spain
Spain Fun Facts
Spain is an eclectic and beautiful country. Spain was ruled from 1939 to 1975 by Dictator Francisco
Franco. This regime wanted to unify Spain and outlaw regional languages and promoting the Roman
Catholic Church. He also wanted to cut off Spain from other countries. After his death in 1975, King
Juan Carlos 1 returned to democracy. So began a night culture called La Movida and artistic
expressions including music, art and fun.
The currency in Spain is the Euro.
Spain has 4,964 km of coastline.
Spain’s population is around 45 million.
Spain is 5 times bigger than the UK and has two thirds of its population.
Spain produces 44% of all the earth’s olive oil.
Spain’s symbol of Granada is the pomegranate.
The night life if jumping with 344.000 bars!
Spain has over 8,000 km of beaches.
Spain climate is varied. Some areas resemble desert and in winter it can rain 20 days out of the
month.
There are many animals in Spain. However, bats are prevalent and the symbol of Valencia.
Scientists found that one bat actually eats birds!
Madrid is Spain’s capital city and it is located directly in the center of the country.
You may not be aware but Spanish food is not spicy! They use a lot of Chile peppers but the food
come out more tangy than hot. However, you could taste the garlic.
If you drink hot chocolate in Spain you will find it very thick almost like drinking warm pudding!
Each household in Spain buys fresh bread every day! They are called barras or pistol as.
If you are in Spain you won’t find corn or flour tortillas because they are so popular! If you do visit
Spain you will probably notice that there are other languages being spoken like Galician, Basque
and Catalan.
You may have heard the phrase, “The rain in Spain falls mainly on the Plain.” Well that is not true. In
2007, it rained every day ending a drought.
Spain is the country closet to Africa!
Spain likes its sports but in particular soccer is the most popular sport!
Some popular and well known artists have come from Spain like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and
Joan Miro.
Bullfighting is also considered an art in Spain. It is one of the popular attractions and the biggest and
most controversial sports in Spain. It is actually a part of the Spain’s history, art and culture. There
are bull rings in all major cities and outlying areas!
The tooth fairy is not recognized in Spain. Instead, they have a tooth mouse named Ratoncito Perez!
Flamenco is the musical genre in Spain that uses rapid passages and intricate footwork.
Spain is a country located in South Western Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.
The capital (and largest city) is Madrid.
The official name of Spain is the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de Espana).
The Population of Spain is estimated to be just over 46 million.
At 504,782 km², Spain is the world's 51st-largest country (comparatively slightly more than twice the size of the American state of Oregon).
Spain is made up of 17 autonomous regions.
The official language of Spain is Spanish (Catalan, Valencian, Gallego, Euskera are independent languages spoken in Catalonia, Valencia, Galicia and The Basque Country).
Spain has the lowest population density in Western Europe (excluding Scandinavia).
In the tourist areas of the Mediterranean coast and the islands, English and German are widely spoken by tourists, expat residents, and local workers.
Spain has over 8,000km of beaches.
Spain has one of the most diverse landscapes and climates in Europe. The region of Almeria in the South East resembles a desert in places, while the North West in winter can expect rain around 20 days out of every month.
The Spanish National Day is 12 October.
Spain's territory includes the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic.
The Spanish national anthem is called La Marcha Real (The Royal March).
Some Cities in Spain to visit are Alicante, Barcelona, Granada, Malaga, Murcia, Seville and Valencia.
Spain has a parliamentary monarchy government.
The pomegranate is the symbol of the Spanish city of Granada.
Spain is the 28th most populated country in the world and the sixth most populated country in Europe (after Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy and the Ukraine).
Spain's Currency is the Euro.
If you are traveling to Spain and are a citizen of the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein: all you need is your Identification Card, or a valid passport to gain entry.
The two main newspapers in Spain are El País (The Country) and El Mundo (The World).
Don Quixote (full title: El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha "The Ingenious Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha") is an novel written by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. It is the most influential work of literature to emerge from the Spanish Golden Age and perhaps the entire Spanish canon of literature.
King Henry VIII's first wife was Spanish. She was called Catherine of Aragon.
Soccer (fútbol) is the most popular spectator sport in Spain.
The average life expectancy in Spain is 79.
Some well known Spanish artists include Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Joan Miró.
During the 16th century, Spain was one of the most powerful empires in the world.
Bullfighting is considered an art as well as a sport and popular attraction. It is also the biggest and most controversial sport in Spain and is an integral part of Spanish history, art and culture with bull rings in all major cities and beyond.
Accepting a second serving is one of the best ways to show appreciation to the cook in Spain.
The patron saint of Spain is Saint James (Santiago)
Madrid is in the physical centre of the country.
There are no tooth fairies in Spain. Instead, there is a tooth mouse named Ratoncito Pérez.
Flamenco is a Spanish term that refers both to a musical genre, known for its intricate rapid passages, and a dance genre characterized by its audible footwork.
Spain is 5 times bigger than the UK with only two thirds of its population.
94% of the people in Spain are Roman Catholic.
Spain is the third biggest country in Europe (after France and the Ukraine).
Before we go to the interesting facts about Spain, a brief introduction of SPAIN to add some spice. Spain (Spanish España), parliamentary monarchy in southwestern Europe, occupying the greater part of the Iberian Peninsula, and bounded on the north by the Bay of Biscay, France, and Andorra; on the east by the Mediterranean Sea; on the south by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean; and on the west by Portugal and the Atlantic Ocean. The British dependency of Gibraltar is situated at the southern extremity of Spain. The Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa are governed as provinces of Spain. Also, Spain administers two small exclaves in Morocco—Ceuta and Melilla—as well as three island groups near Africa—Peñón de Vélez de la Gomera and the Alhucemas and Chafarinas islands. The area of Spain, including the African and insular territories, is 505,990 sq km (195,364 sq mi). Madrid is the capital and largest city.
INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT SPAIN:
* Teenagers usually begin dating in groups around age 14 and as couples at age 18.* Rather than call on a girl at her home, a boy often meets a girl at a prearranged site* More women than men are currently enrolled in Spain's universities.* About 40 percent of Spaniards between the ages of 17 and 24 are smokers.* Spain has one of Europe's highest rates of AIDS.* In Spain, people eat lunch at 2 pm, and dinner at 9-10 pm* It is slightly more than twice the size of Oregon.* Spain occupies 85% of the Iberian Peninsula* In World War I, Spain maintained a position of neutrality. In 1923, Gen. Miguel Primo de Rivera
became dictator.* In June 2005, despite strong opposition from the Catholic Church, Spain legalized gay marriage.* Spain gained independence from the Moors in Granada (The Moors' Last Stronghold) in 1492.* Christopher Columbus set sail from Spain in order to find the New World.* 94 percent of the population is Roman Catholic.* In Spain, the official currency is the euro since January of 2002.* In Spain, prescription medications can be obtained "over-the-counter" at pharmacies.* Spain has 40,217,413 Inhabitants.* During the 16th century, Spain was one of the most powerful empires in the world.* Spaniards stand close and frequently touch one another on the arm while conversing.* Team sports are not part of school programs, so people join private clubs.* Accepting a second serving is one of the best ways to show appreciation to the cook* Low birthrates stem in part from high unemployment and steep housing costs, which make it impossible for most people to buy houses large enough for more than two children* Spaniards place a high value on what others think of them.* Soccer (fútbol) is the most popular spectator sport in Spain. Fans often crowd homes and local bars to watch important matches* Bullfighting, considered an art and a popular attaction, is the biggest and most controversial sport in Spain and is an integral part of Spanish history, art and culture with bull rings in all major cities and quite a few minor ones.* Spain has become one of the most legally liberal and progressive countries in Europe in recent years.* Same-sex marriage has been legal in Spain since 2005.* Personal consumption and home cultivation of cannabis are legal in Spain.* Spain was one of the first European countries to ban smoking in in all workplaces, and bars and restaurants (from 2006), following the lead of Ireland and Norway two years earlier.* Not all Spaniards are native speakers of (Castilian) "Spanish". There are in fact four official languages in Spain (Castilian, Catalan, Basque and Galician), three unofficial regional languages (Asturian, Aragonese and Aranese), and several more dialects of these (Andalucian, Valencian...). Almost all Spaniards can speak Castilian Spanish though.* Spain is traditionally a strongly religious country (Roman Catholocism). However, only 76% of Spaniards now identify themselves as Catholics, and only about 20% are regular church-goers. Due to recent immigration, 3% of the population is now Muslim.* Spanish-speaking cultures have been very propicious for the development of new dance styles, such as Flamenco (inspired by Andalusian, Islamic, Sephardic, and Gypsy cultures), Merengue (Hispano-African), Salsa, Mambo and Cha-cha-cha (African and Cuban), Rumba (African, Amerindian and Spanish), etc.* Spanish culture greatly influenced modern art from the late 1800's, with artists like Antoni Gaudí (Art Nouveau), Pablo Picasso (expressionism, cubism, surrealism), Joan Miró (surrealism), or Salvador Dalí (surrealism).* Most of Spain was under Muslim domination from 711 to the mid 11th century. The full peninsula was not reconquered by the Christian powers until 1492.* The Spanish Inquisition, which aimed at converting non-Christians to Christian Catholicism, started in 1478, and was not abolished until 1834. It is estimated that the Inquisition processed some 350,000
people, of whom at least 10% were executed (most famously burnt at the stake).* Under Philip II's reign (1556-1598), and until 1640, Spain ruled over an empire comprising Spain, the Spanish Netherlands (most of present Belgium, and Northern France), Southern Italy, most of South and Central America (Brazil included), about half of the present USA, the Philippines (named after Philip II), as well as various smaller colonies in Asia and Africa (Macao, Malacca, Goa, Daman, Diu...).* Tomatoes, potatoes, avocadoes, tobacco, and cacao, were all brought to Europe (then spread around the world) by the Spaniards from their American colonies. All these words were imported from Spanish language into English, which explains why they end in "-o".* The Spanish colonies in the Americas (except Cuba and Puerto Rico, lost to the USA in 1898) became independent between 1809 and 1825, mostly due to Napoleon's occupation of Spain between 1808 and 1814.* Spain did not participate in either the First or Second World War.* Spain has twice as many bank branches as the EU average, although...* the Spanish guard a comparatively high amount of cash at home (EUR 1.531,- on average).* There are more cars than mobile phones around.* The population has grown by 7.4% since 1999, with the Balearean population growing by 16.2% in the same period of time.* The economic standard is highest in the Basque country and Navarra, with a disposable income of about EUR 14.000,- per family, comparing to the province with the lowest economic level of EUR 1.075,- of an average family in Extremadura.
ABOUT SPAIN
The Spanish call their country España. The name comes from the ancient word Span, which means hidden or remote land. It’s a fitting name, since Spain stands somewhat apart from the rest of Europe.
Facts About Spain
Official name Kingdom of Spain
Capital Madrid
Official language Castilian Spanish
Population 40,400,000 people
Rank among countries in population 30th
Major cities Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville
Facts About Spain
Area195,000 square miles506,000 square kilometers
Rank among countries in area 50th
Highest pointPico de Teide12,188 feet/3,715 meters
Currency Euro
THE IBERIAN PENINSULA
Spain is on a peninsula, a piece of land that juts into water. It’s called the Iberian Peninsula, and it lies between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Spain covers most of the peninsula, apart from a small area occupied by the country of Portugal to the west.
The steep Pyrenees Mountains cross the neck of the peninsula. For centuries, the Pyrenees isolated Spain from its European neighbors to the north.
In the south, Spain almost touches northern Africa. Only a narrow strip of water called the Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain from the African continent. For this reason, African influences are an important part of Spain’s history.
SPANISH ISLANDS
Spain has numerous islands, too. They include the Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean Sea and the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Africa.
A HIGH, ROCKY PLATEAU
A huge, rocky plateau called the Meseta Central rises in central Spain. It’s a high, mostly treeless region that covers more than half the country. The best farmland lies along a narrow coastal plain in the north. Even here, rocky ridges come right to the ocean. They cut the plain into short strips.
SUNNY AND DRY
Spain has sunny weather and a dry climate. Spanish farmers herd animals such as sheep and cattle. They grow crops such as olives, grapes, and almonds. Spain is the world’s biggest producer of olives. They are picked for eating and used to make olive oil. Spain also grows plenty of cork oak trees. Cork is cut from the bark of this tree.
The sunny weather, sandy Mediterranean beaches, and scenic islands make Spain a playground for visitors. In fact, Spain is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
MADRID AND BARCELONA
Spain’s capital and largest city is Madrid. It stands near the very heart of the Iberian Peninsula. Madrid is a modern city that’s home to about 3 million people. It’s also filled with famous old landmarks, such as the Plaza Mayor, a huge public square lined with impressive buildings.
Barcelona, on the northeast coast, is Spain’s second largest city. Barcelona is Spain’s chief port and main industrial center. The city’s most famous landmark is the Church of the Holy Family. The ornate spires of the cathedral rise more than 328 feet (100 meters).
BULLFIGHTING
Perhaps no sport is more Spanish than bullfighting. The Spanish consider it an art form. Bullfighters, called matadors, seek to show bravery and dignity in the bullfighting ring. The danger and excitement of the sport inspired American author Ernest Hemingway to write about bullfighting in two books, The Sun Also Rises and Death in the Afternoon.
Every summer, Spaniards celebrate the beginning of bullfighting season with a week of festivities. In the city of Pamplona, celebrations include the running of the bulls. Each morning, bulls are set loose in the city streets. Those who dare get in front of the bulls and try to race ahead of them. Sometimes, people are wounded or even killed by the bulls.
THE MUSLIM PAST
In ad 711, Muslim invaders from Africa captured Spain. The Muslims had conquered their way across North Africa before invading Spain. Spain remained a Muslim-ruled land for hundreds of years.
The Muslim rulers built dazzling cities such as Granada and Córdoba. Muslim palaces such as Alhambra in Granada still amaze visitors. Spain became a center of learning under Muslim rule. Philosophers, scientists, and artists produced important works.
CHRISTIANITY TRIUMPHS
Christian kingdoms in northern Spain fought the Muslims fiercely. Slowly, Christian forces recaptured Spain. In the late 1400s, two Roman Catholic monarchs got married—Ferdinand of Aragón and Isabella of Castile. In 1492, Ferdinand and Isabella drove the last Muslim rulers from Spain.
Afterward, Spain became a Catholic nation. In fact, the Spanish government set up a court called the Spanish Inquisition. This court caught and punished people who refused to convert to Catholicism.
A WORLD EMPIRE
Ferdinand and Isabella made Spain a great power. In 1492, Isabella sponsored a voyage led by a sailor named Christopher Columbus. Columbus was seeking a westward route to Asia. Instead of finding Asia, Columbus found the Americas. It proved to be a turning point in Spanish history.
Spain got to the Americas ahead of most other European countries. It quickly built an empire in parts of North and South America. Spanish ships carted huge amounts of silver and gold back to Europe. Spain became Europe’s richest country. It ruled a world empire.
SPAIN’S GOLDEN AGE
Spain’s great wealth led to a Golden Age in Spain. In the 1500s and 1600s, Spanish writers and artists reached great heights of achievement. Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra wrote Don Quixote, a masterpiece of European literature. Artists such as El Greco produced brilliant paintings.
LOSS OF EMPIRE
Spain used most of its wealth to build military power, including a great navy called the Spanish Armada. When the gold and silver ran out, it had little to fall back on. Spain grew poor and weak. Its colonies broke away.
In 1898, Spain lost a war with the United States. That forced Spain to give up Cuba, Guam, and Puerto Rico, its last holdings in the Americas.
CIVIL WAR
In 1936, a terrible civil war broke out in Spain. It ended with a general named Francisco Franco taking over. This tough dictator executed thousands of people and put thousands more in prison. Franco died in 1975.
SPAIN TODAY
After Franco’s death, Spain appointed a king. They chose Juan Carlos I, who was descended from Spain’s last king. But Spain also adopted a new constitution that made the king a symbol rather than the ruler. It gave real power to an elected prime minister. Today, Spain is a vibrant democracy.
FUN FACTS ABOUT SPAIN AND SPANIARDS
12 Sunday Oct 2008
Posted by monicasuma in Europe, Spain, Travel
Taken from my own observations or from my Spanish teachers.
They have funny looking sandals – especially in Barcelona
They say joder, coño, madre mia, vaya putada, ostia, gilipollo, esta de puta madre, hijoputa
every few words. They all mean pretty much the same – damn, f…, Jesus Christ, wtf (these are
all palabrotas)
They eat very VERY late – lunch from 2 to 4pm and dinner beginning with 10pm
Having breakfast at home is not common
Madrid’s tap water is one of the best ever, it’s actually drinkable
The older population reminds me of the one in Romania
Surprisingly, the same population goes out very often, and are always extremely elegant
Older women love their long expensive natural fur coats
Madrid has the smallest metro cards I’ve ever seen (the ones in Paris are almost the same)
Football is their second religion
Playing the lottery is a national hobby
They respect their free time – many of the tiendas close for 3hrs after lunch time
Spaniards like to party (no shit?!)
Spaniards do botellon before they go to a club (drinking much cheaper drinks in someone’s
house or in a park rather than paying triple inside a club; warming up)
Only Cyprus surpasses Spain in the highest number of bars per inhabitants !!! (1 bar for 129
people; Romania has 1 bar for 1295 people - quite a difference, isn’t it?)
Spain has the highest number of bars, restaurants and coffee shops, in the European Union,
more exactly 344.426 !!!
Presenting oneself at a party at 12 or 1 am is ridiculously early; Spaniards start the night around
2 am and finish at 6-7am, after which they go to eat churros
On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, at 6-7am, the subway is one of the most crowded
spots in Madrid – everyone is going home and they are still very much alive – it’s the best metro
atmosphere I’ve ever witnessed, for once you feel happy to be where you areTo demonstrate
just how much tobacco is part of their culture, you can only get subway passes for a month in an
estanco, which is where they sell tobacco
Alcohol and tobacco are part of their culture – they almost never ask, while with a group of
people, if they can smoke
Spaniards smoke a lot and a bit of everything
Not only that, but, strangely enough, even if it’s only a country of 4o something million people,
Spain is number 1 in the world in consuming cocaine
Smoking is also perceived as a family activity
Two years ago, you could practically smoke anywhere and everywhere in Spain: in class, on the
plane, on the subway, in hospitals, etc. Now you can only smoke in bars
The Canary Islands are a fiscal Paradise, they only pay around 5% taxes - they are closer to Africa
than Spain and their main resource of living is tourism
Spaniards are always complaining
Spaniards talk a lot and very fast
However, Spaniards are some of the nicest kindest people you will ever see – when asking for
directions in the street, EVERYONE helps you by thouroughly explaining the way, regardless of
how busy or upset they might be
Most Spaniards are dark haired with dark eyes, peludos (hairy), not very tall
Spaniards, men and women, have the most excentric, bold, funny looking haircuts I’ve ever seen
The waiters are generally very rude
Mahou is the no 1 best selling beer in Spain, however I think Alhambra is the best beer I’ve ever
had, it has a sweet taste to it, hard to explain
Seat is the only Spanish car brand
You don’t have to leave any tip in Spain – this is a common mistake of the americans, being used
to the traditional 15% tip in the US
When you buy a coffee, the waiter always brings something that looks like an expresso, and
then they ad, in front of you, a ton of milk
Spaniards also kiss once on each cheek when meeting someone or when greeting and saying
hello, such as Romanians
The Spanish hymn has no lyrics – did you notice the winner of the Euro Cup mumbling when
listening to their national hymn?
Each regional country of Spain – Pais Vasco, Cataluña, Galicia – has its own language, hymn and
flag
El Castellano is the main language
Spaniards are not very good at learning other languages
Every English word is made into a Spanish one (freak turns into friqui/friki, iphone turns into
ifon, CD turns into cede, DVD turns into deuvede, etc)
For 40 years, between 1936 and 1975, Franco ruled Spain in the form of a dictatorship
Spain transformed itself from a very traditional poor society to a very modern rich one, reaching
second place in the most visited countries in the world, with 59.2 million visitors a year (France
is on first place with 81.9 million visitors, while the US is on third place, with 56 millions), as well
as the second fastest growing population regarding immigration
Barcelona has 15 million visitors per year, while Madrid has only 6 or 7
The Madrid-Barcelona route has the highest number of flights per week in the world
The Madrid subway system is the third in the world, by number of kilometres covered, after
London and New York, even if Madrid is barely the 50th metropolis
Spain has been the biggest doner of organs in the world, for 15 consecutive years !!!
Spain is the third country in the world, after the US and Brazil, adherent to plastic surgery
Ten things to know before moving to Spain
In the Garlic authors share 10 tips about surviving and loving Spain in all its diversity.
Related Articles
In The Garlic: The real guide to Spain
MOVING to Spain is not like moving to paradise. Yes it’s sunny throughout, has beautiful beaches that run for miles and looks really pretty, but it’s also a place which can drive you wild if you don’t know it right
In the Garlic authors Valerie Collins and Theresa O'Shea share their top 10 tips about life is really lived here in Spain.
Tip 1When dealing with any facet of Spanish bureaucracy, remember The Law of Falta Uno: that however many documents and photocopies you take along there will always be ONE missing. Always double
check that you have every piece of paper that you think you might need (and possibly even a few more that you don't).
Be patient. Be assertive. Take plenty of reading material. Rope in a friendly mentor who speaks the lingo, and check any papers you are given with a fine tooth comb for names, dates, accounts numbers and more BEFORE you leave the desk or ventanilla (window). Any undiscovered glitch may set you back years. Oh, and don't forget the rabbit’s foot.
Tip 2Do not forget to tip the butanero – the man (and it will be a man) who throws those two-ton orange gas-bottles on his shoulder and climbs four flights of stairs when the lift is broken to deliver what may well be your main source of heating and fuel.
Tip 3If it is your birthday, don't stand around grinning, waiting for someone to buy you a drink, or bounce jauntily into work expecting to be showered with goodies. Not only do the Spanish drive on the wrong side of the road, they've also got the whole birthday thing completely wrong.
It's your birthday, it's your shout. As if it's not bad enough chalking up another year, you have to treat your colleagues and friends to boot. If it's your child's birthday, make sure he /she takes a big bag of sweets to school to share with his / her classmates.
Tip 4Do not go to the beach in August. Three quarters of the population of Spain and their families will be there, too. Along with several kitchen sinks. You will wait nine hours to get served at a restaurant, another nine hours for the food to arrive, plus two or three more before you get fed up waiting for the bill and do a 'sinpa' (ie a runner, from sin pagar - without paying).
Tip 5Do not pop into the bank / gestor's office / estate agent / post office / mechanic's between 9.30 and 11 in the morning. There will be a queue and one over-worked, stressed-out, don't-you-dare-complain employee will be holding the fort.
Should you wish to see a specific somebody, you can be sure said somebody will be in the nearest bar, tucking into
his/ her segundo desayuno (second breakfast). If you can't beat them, join them, and order a nice large café con leche with a torpedo-sized toasted roll drizzled in oil, rubbed with tomato and stuffed with ham / cheese / tuna/ tortilla / or any combination thereof.
Tip 6Remember, children are not only to be heard and seen. They are also to be picked up and cooed over at every possible instant, allowed to stay up as late as their parents during the summer holidays, and thought of as nothing but cute as they scream around your table while you try enjoy a quiet drink.
Tip 7 If you need to attract the barperson's attention, a polite raised finger and a timid 'Perdone' or 'Disculpe' (Excuse me) won't get you very far.
Clear your throat, along with however many decades of ingrained politeness, and yell: '¡Oiga!' (Listen, person-that-I-don't-know), or if you're really really brave, '¡Oye' (Listen, person-that-I-don't-know-but-will-speak-to-as-if-I-did).
That should do it, you'll fit right in, and no-one will mutter anything about 'manners' and 'upbringing'. Forthright and direct is ok. Just remember you can make your intonation sound polite – and smile.
Tip 8Remember, time is relative. In Spain la mañana lasts until about 2pm, la tarde (the afternoon) stretches to nightfall, there is no word for evening, and the early hours have their own special name: la madrugada.
Tip 9Do not attempt to buy a house, get a new kitchen put in, renew your driving licence, make an insurance claim, see a doctor, give birth etc in August. Spain is not in (It's gone to the beach. See 4).
Tip 10 Do not refer to catalan, valenciano or gallego as dialects of 'Spanish' or Castilian – unless you want to get right up the nose of a Catalan, Valenciano, Gallego big time. They are all languages in their own right, and are co-official with castellano in the autonomous communities in which they are spoken (ie Catalunya, Valencia and the Balearics, and Galicia).
¡Viva España!
F.C. Barcelona: Campeón de la Liga de Campeones.
¡Felicitaciones al Barça!
For a Spanish Football Quiz, click HERE.
Rafael Nadal: Campeón de Roland Garros por sexta vez en 2011 y campeón de Wimbledon por segunda vez en 2010.
Ganó por primera vez el Abierto de los Estados Unidos en 2010.
¡Es fenomenal! ¡Muchas felicidades Rafa!
(Image from Wikimedia Commons)
FACTS ABOUT SPAIN
¿Lo sabías?......
1. In Spain, most people celebrate their name day. In Spanish, it is called el día de tu santo. If you have the same name as a
saint or a name related to the story of a saint, then you will have a name day.
On every day of the year at least one name is celebrated. On special occasions like this, people say
¡Felicidades! (Best wishes.)
2. In Spain, everyone has two surnames. The first is your father's first surname and the second is your mother's first surname. Your father's surname is considered to be more important and
that is why it is positioned first. It is always the father's surname that is carried forward to the next generation!
Here is an example: A man is called Jaime López García. When Jaime marries a lady called Elena Martín Pérez, their children's surnames will be López Martín. Only the men's
surnames survive - those of Jaime's father and Elena's father.The word for 'surname' is 'apellido.' Some of the most common
Spanish surnames are - García, Rodríguez, Martínez, Martín, Fernández, López, González, Sánchez and Pérez.
3. In addition to Spain, the Spanish language is spoken in the following countries-
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea,
El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Venezuela.
Spanish is also spoken in parts of- Andorra, Belize, Gibraltar, Morocco, the Philippines
and the USA.
4. In Spain, the Spanish language is officially called Castilian (el castellano). There are other Spanish languages spoken there
too, such as, Catalan (el catalán), Galician (el gallego), Basque (el vasco or el euskera), Valencian (el valenciano).
5. Spanish people love to sing and dance. The most famous type of Spanish music is Flamenco in the south of Spain. Flamenco
music has three ingredients: el cante (the song), el baile (the dance), and el toque (the guitar playing).
To watch a Flamenco video click HERE.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons. Creator of photo: Gilles Larrain. The picture
portrays Belén Maya, a Flamenco dancer.)
6. Other types of Spanish music and dance are - bolero, fandango, farruca, jota, malaguena, paso doble, seguidilla.
In Spanish-speaking parts of Latin America, these dances originated - habanera, mambo, rumba, salsa, tango.
7. In the city of Seville (Sevilla) there is a form of Flamenco dance called la sevillana. Every April there is a big festival called la
Feria de Sevilla. At this festival you see the local people dancing sevillanas. Everyone wears traditional Flamenco
dress. Girls and ladies spend a lot of time discussing the colour of their dresses, hooped earrings and flowers for their hair.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons, author Ed Tarwinski.)
To hear some Sevillana music, click on the button and go to Track 24.
La Feria de Abril de Sevilla lasts for one week and starts on Monday two weeks after Easter Day. Each year, there is a poster
to advertise the event.
Approximately one million people attend the festival.
It began as a cattle market in 1847 with tents erected for the selling of the animals.
Nowadays, the tents are striped in bright colours and inside there is music and dancing. The tents are called casetas (little
houses). Most of the casetas are erected in an area of the festival known as El Real de la Feria, and there are around one
thousand of them.
Every year, there is a temporary gateway to the Feria, called La Portada. Below is the gateway of 2007. The gateway is covered in electric light bulbs so that it is is lit up at night time. There is a
special opening ceremony when the lights of the festival are switched on. This ceremony is called El Alumbrado.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons, author Torchondo.)
Below is the gateway of 2008:
(Image from Wikimedia Commons, author Lobillo.)
Below is the very first gateway to the Seville Fair.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons, the original photo hangs in El Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares de Sevilla.)
Each day there is a fairground known as 'the street of hell' (La Calle del Infierno), horse parades, bullfights, dancing and music,
and general merry-making! At the end of the week of festivities, there are fireworks. The way
to say 'fireworks' in Spanish is 'los fuegos artificiales.'It is well-known that people (including children) return home at
dawn following a night at La Feria de Sevilla.
8. During the hot summer, Spanish ladies cool themselves with a hand-held fan called 'un abanico.'
Although the fan is believed to have originated in China, it is known to have been used in Spain by the nobility as early as in the 14th Century. It was a fine and expensive object made from
palm leaves, straw, silk and feathers - including peacock feathers. In those times, people who carried a fan were
considered to be of high class.
9. The mantilla is a lace head-dress for ladies. It is worn on special occasions. At traditional Spanish weddings, the bride
wears one.
10. Traditional Spanish musical instruments are the guitar (la guitarra) and castanets (las castañuelas.)
11. A traditional Spanish pastime between March and October is to go to an arena to watch a bullfight (una corrida de toros.)
The official name for this event is La Fiesta Nacional.
The area of Cataluña in Spain has voted to ban bullfighting.
There is one other area where this ban already exists: The Canary Islands (Las Islas Canarias) since 1991.
The earliest recorded Spanish bullfights took place in the 11th. century.
The oldest bullfighting arena (plaza de toros) is in the town of Ronda in Southern Spain. It was opened in 1785.
The most famous bullfighter is Pedro Romero from Ronda. He was born in 1754. During his career he killed over five thousand
bulls without ever being hurt. He died in 1839. Below is his portrait, painted by famous Spanish artist Francisco
Goya.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons.)
12. The drink known as sherry comes from the Spanish town of Jerez and the surrounding area. The full name of the town is
Jerez de la Frontera. The word for sherry in Spanish is the same as the name of the
town:- jerez. Sherry is a strong wine and it comes in four varieties -
fino (very dry and pale in colour), amontillado (dry with a nutty flavour),oloroso (full flavour and dark colour),
manzanilla (meaning 'camomile' because it looks like it. )
If you go to the famous Feria de Sevilla (mentioned earlier on this page) you will see that sherry is a popular drink.
13. One of the most important foods in Spain is rice (arroz). It is the main ingredient in la paella which is one of the most famous traditional dishes of Spain. La paella is cooked in a very big frying pan called la paellera and traditionally it is cooked outside in the
open air. It is a mixture of rice, meat, seafood and vegetables.
Rice pudding (arroz con leche) is one of the favourite desserts
in Spain.Before eating, it is polite to say ¡Que aproveche! meaning
'Enjoy your meal!'
14. Saffron is a yellow-coloured spice which is used a lot in Spanish cookery. This is why the rice of la paella is yellow.
15. Potato omelette (la tortilla española) is a very popular dish in Spain.
In Spanish homes, everyone seems to be very good at tossing the omelette (just like a pancake), so that it can be cooked on the
other side.
16. The Spanish flag is red, yellow, red. There is the Spanish coat of arms on the yellow stripe. There is a legend that the
yellow represents the sand of the bull-fighting arena and the red is for the bulls' blood.
The capital city of Spain is Madrid. It is the largest city of Spain
and is built on the River Manzanares. The symbol of Madrid is 'a bear eating from a strawberry tree'. This symbol is called El
Oso y El Madroño. Below is the symbol of Madrid and a famous statue of the bear in
La Puerta Del Sol, the main square of Madrid.
(Photo by Javier Carro, source: Wikimedia Commons)
17. The patron saint of Spain is Saint James (Santiago). His relics are in the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia,
Northern Spain. Below are some photos of the city.
(Photos by Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez. Wikimedia Commons.)
18. When having a Spanish telephone conversation, the very first words spoken are -
By the person who answers the phone : Diga or Dime (Tell me / Say)
By the person who makes the phone call: Oiga or Oye (Hear / Listen).
19. When the British town crier shouts Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! he is telling everyone to hear what he has to say.
This is similar to the Spanish word '¡Oye!' (Hear!) The same can be said for when you shout 'Oy!' to someone!
These words come from the Latin verb audire - to hear.
20. There used to exist a night watchman in every Spanish town. He would walk around the town during night-time, lighting street lights and shouting out the time. He was known as el sereno.
21. The most famous Spanish artists are : 17th Century - Diego Velázquez, 18th Century - Francisco Goya 19th Century - Jaoquin Sorolla20th Century - Pablo Picasso
Salvador Dali Joan Miró
To read about Pablo Picasso, click HERE.
The painting below is the very famous work called 'An Old Woman Frying Eggs.' In Spanish, it is called 'Vieja friendo huevos.' It was painted by Diego Velázquez in 1618 and at the moment it can be
seen at the National Gallery in Edinburgh!
(Image from Wikimedia Commons.)
22. The Spanish make of car is SEAT. The company began in 1950.
The letters SEAT stand for Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo, (Spanish Society for Touring Cars.)
23. One of the most famous department stores to be found in Spanish town centres is called El Corte Inglés. This name
means 'English Dressmaking'. It began as a small tailor's shop in Madrid in 1934. Nowadays, it
sells everything - food, clothes, ornaments, furniture, etc.......
24. In Spanish punctuation there is an upside-down question mark ¿ at the beginning of a question and a normal one at the
end. In written Spanish, there is also an upside-down exclamation mark. ¡Ay! ¡Caramba!
25. In Spain, the main meal of the day is at lunch time. Shops close during this time for several hours. After lunch, many people
rest or take a nap. This is called a 'siesta.'
26. King Henry VIII's first wife was Spanish. She was called Catherine of Aragon. To read more about her, click HERE.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons, source Tudor Place)
27. The pomegranate is the symbol of the Spanish city of Granada.
It can also be seen on the Spanish coat of arms. A crowned pomegranate was the personal symbol of Catherine of
Aragon. In Spanish, the word for pomegranate is granada, just like the name of the Spanish city. In fact, many people believe that the
city of Granada was named after the fruit because the pomegranate grows in abundance there.
Below you can see the official symbol of the City of Granada, in the shape of a crowned pomegranate and with a smaller
pomegranate inside, too.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons.)
28. Spain has a royal family. The current king is called Juan Carlos I
(John Charles). He has been the king of Spain since 1975. His wife is Queen Sofia. The official residence of the Spanish royal family is El
Palacio Real de Madrid (photo below). This is the largest royal palace in Western Europe. It is used for special occasions.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons, author J.L.de Diego.)
The palace where the Spanish royal family actually lives is El Palacio de Zarzuela in the outskirts of Madrid.
About the Spanish Royal Family: The official name of the Spanish King is- Su Majestad el Rey Don Juan Carlos.
On the day of his coronation he proclaimed that he wished to be El Rey de todos los españoles (King for all the Spanish
people.)
According to Spanish tradition, the heir to the throne is called 'Príncipe' (prince) or 'Princesa' (princess).
Spanish princes and princesses who are not going to become King or Queen are called the Infante or the Infanta. This title means
'an infant or child of noble birth.'
29. In Spain, it is common for families to have a maid (una criada), especially in families where there is a professional
parent, e.g. a doctor, teacher, lawyer, etc.......
30. Spain is famous for producing beautiful horses with arched necks and long manes. The Andalusian horse from Spain (el
caballo andaluz) is believed to be the oldest breed of riding-horse in the world.
The word for horse is el caballo. The Spanish word for gentleman is el caballero (meaning- 'man on horseback').
Before the invention of cars, a man on horseback was of a higher class than a man on foot.
Below is an Andalusian horse doing a 'Spanish walk.' Do you see the horse's arched shape?
(Image from Wikimedia Commons, original source: Eigene Aufnahmen. Animation by Waugsberg.)
31. Although Christopher Columbus was Italian, he became an explorer for the Spanish King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella (the
parents of Catherine of Aragon) in the 15th Century. He made four voyages to the Americas by ship across the
Atlantic Ocean and proved that the world is a sphere and NOT flat as people believed at that time.
On his first voyage, he took three ships called - La Niña, La Pinta and La Santa María. Below is a replica of La Santa María.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons, author Dietrich Bartel.)
The exact date when Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón in Spanish) arrived in America
(12 October, 1492) is celebrated every year in Spain. For this reason, the date of 12 October is a national holiday in
Spain called La Fiesta Nacional de España. It is also known as El Día de la Hispanidad. There are lots of parades, and the King of Spain always takes part in the celebrations in Madrid.
To hear a song about Columbus' three ships, click on the button and go to Track 12.
(This song is sung in Italian)
32. The tomb of Christopher Columbus is in Seville Cathedral, Southern Spain. It is held by the statues of four kings. Each king
represents a kingdom of Spain. The four kingdoms are - León, Castilla, Aragón and Navarra.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons.)
33. The Spanish national anthem is called La Marcha Real (The Royal March).
Click HERE to sing along.Go to Track 39
34. Christmas Eve is very important in Spain. It is called Nochebuena (The good night) and it is a very happy occasion
with lots of parties. Families eat a special meal on the night of 24 December. There are many foods prepared for this meal. Seafood and
turkey are a popular choice. A sweet nougat called turrón and sparkling Cava wine are also popular.
(To read more about Christmas in Spain, click HERE)
35. Christmas Day is called El Día de Navidad. Another big meal is eaten and some presents might be given.
36. The 6 January is the most important day of Christmas in Spain.
This is known as the day of The Three Kings (Los Reyes). This is the day when children receive most presents. The Three Kings arrive during the night of 5 January and leave presents for the
children.
Children leave letters for the Kings, telling them the gifts they would like to receive. They place their shoes outside on the
balcony, outside their bedroom door or beside their bed - hoping to find them filled with treats and surrounded by presents in the
morning!
37. Every town has processions on the 5 January. Sweets are thrown from the passing floats.
38. On 5 January, a special cake is prepared all over Spain. It is called Roscón de Reyes. It is a ring-shape and is covered in
coloured jellies. The jellies represent the sparkling jewels worn by The Three Kings
who followed the star to find The Baby Jesus in the stable in
Bethlehem. Inside the cake, there are little lucky charms. The Spanish belief is that if you find one of these charms in your cake, it will bring
you good luck for the new year.
39. The last night of the year is called La Nochevieja (the old night).
At New Year, it is the tradition to eat twelve grapes at midnight - one grape for each stroke of the clock. Those who eat the twelve grapes believe they will have twelve months of good luck. One grape is eaten for each month. The grapes are known as Las
uvas de la suerte, (the lucky grapes.)
40. In Spain, the bars serve small plates of food to accompany a drink. This small dish is called a tapa.
The tradition of the tapa began in the city of Seville in Southern Spain.
The word tapa actually means a 'lid'. Originally, the workers would go to a tavern after a hard day's work.
Their glasses of wine or beer would be covered with a slice of bread (just like a lid) to keep the flies away from the drink
underneath.
Eventually, the custom changed slightly and a slice of ham or another type of food would be placed on top of the slice of
bread.
Nowadays, the tapa is food served on a little plate beside the drink.
It is no longer used as a lid on top of the glass.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons.)
41. A popular way to eat fish in Spain is to soak it in vinegar, herbs and wine. Then, it is fried in batter. It is called el pescado
en adobo.
42. Spain, with Portugal, belongs to the Iberian Peninsula. The national Spanish airline is called Iberia.
43. The oldest restaurant in the world is in Madrid. It is called Casa Botín and it opened in 1725.
44. The two main newspapers in Spain are El País (The Country) and El Mundo (The World).
45. The University of Salamanca is very old and famous. It was founded around 1220. There is a frog carved in the stone wall
above the main entrance to the University. It is said that if you can 'spot the frog' you will have good luck.
Traditionally, students go to see the frog for goodluck before any important exams!
(Image from Wikimedia Commons.)
46. Pablo Picasso (Pablo means 'Paul') was born in Málaga in Southern Spain in 1881. His father was an art teacher.
Picasso produced more works than any other artist:- thousands of
paintings, engravings, prints, book illustrations, ceramics and sculptures.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons, original source in Argentina: magazine Vea y Lea, 1962.)
In the Spanish tradition, Pablo Picasso had TWO surnames - Ruiz and Picasso.
His full name was VERY long indeed! To find out about his long name and for more information about his life
click HERE.
47. The Spanish coastline is divided into sections - Costa Brava (Rugged Coast), Costa Blanca (White Coast),
Costa Dorada (Golden Coast),
Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun), Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light),
Costa del Azahar (Orange Blossom Coast), Costa Tropical (Tropical Coast),
Costa Cálida (Hot Coast), Costa Vasca (Basque Coast), Costa Rubicón (Red Coast).
48. There is NOT a tooth fairy in Spain. Instead, there is a tooth mouse and his name is Ratoncito Pérez.
49. Spain has won the Football World Cup just once - in 2010. But they have won the Golf World Cup many times!
The national Spanish football team is nicknamed La Furia Roja (The Red Fury).
The word for the sport 'football' in Spanish is 'el fútbol.'
50. In Spain, houses are painted white or a pale colour on the outside. White and light colours reflect sunlight and this helps to
keep the house cool inside, especially during the very hot summer.
Spanish floors are tiled. This also helps to keep the house cool in summer. Spain produces very beautiful floor tiles.
The windows of Spanish houses usually have blinds or shutters, letting the air through but shutting out the light. This helps to
keep the rooms cool during the hot summer.
Especially in the south, windows and doors often have decorative metal bars and railings on the outside to protect them.
51. Every year, in Valencia, there is a very important festival called Las Fallas (The Torches).
It is a celebration of Saint Joseph's Day. During a two week period in March, the Valencian people celebrate continually from
morning until night. There are parties, fireworks, processions and music.
Most importantly, the people build enormous 'dolls' called 'ninots' made from wood, cardboard and wax. These are positioned like
monuments in the streets.
On the last night of the festivities (the 19 March) the people set fire to the 'dolls' - that is why the festival is called 'torches'. There
are even smaller dolls especially created for children. Every year, the 'ninot' which is voted to be the best is saved from
being burned and is placed in the Ninot Museum. The fire brigade is always involved in the event to keep the
people safe as it is very dangerous! Below is the poster, advertising Las Fallas for the year 2008.
(Image above from ayto-valencia.com,: website of El Ayuntamiento de Valencia. Past posters and full details of Las Fallas can be found
here.)
52. One of the greatest Spanish writers was Don Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, known simply as Cervantes. He was born in
Alcalá de Henares, 20 miles from Madrid, in 1547. He wrote novels, plays and poems but his most famous work was
El ingenioso hidalgo de Don Quijote de la Mancha, (1605).
Every October, there is a two-week celebration in Cervantes' home town. This period is called La Semana Cervantina and it
is a celebration of the great writer. The people dress up in 16th Century clothes and there are
markets selling goods in the style of 400 years ago.
It is very interesting that Cervantes died on the very same day as William Shakespeare, on April 23, 1616.
(Below is a portrait of Cervantes. Painted by Juan de Jáuregui.)
(Image from Wikimedia Commons.)
To read more about Cervantes, click HERE.
53. Around the year 1040, a Spanish nobleman was born. His full name was Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar. His nickname was El Cid,
meaning 'the chief.' He was educated in the royal court and
became a great leader in the king's army, helping to defeat the Moors.
El Cid rode a beautiful, white horse named Babieca (meaning - foolish). It is one of the most famous horses in history. El Cid
loved his horse and had chosen it against the advice of his godfather who thought that the horse was not very clever. That is
why people called it Babieca.
Below is a picture of a statue in Burgos. It portrays El Cid on his famous horse.
(Image from Wikimedia Commons, author: Escarlati.)
There is a legend that El Cid died just before an important battle in 1099. The wife of El Cid strapped his dead body to his horse. The body was dressed in armour, to make it appear to the army that their great leader was still alive. The soldiers, unaware that El Cid was dead, rode bravely into battle, following him, and they
won!
The sword of El Cid can be seen in the Army Museum of Madrid. It is believed to be one of the most precious possessions of the
Spanish Royal Family.The tomb of El Cid and his wife Jimena can be found inside Burgos
Cathedral.
54. In the northern town of Pamplona, there is a very famous festival every year from 6 to 14 July. It is a celebration of the
town's saint - San Fermín.
At 8 o' clock each morning, a rocket is fired and six bulls are released to run wild along a prepared route. Local people and
tourists show how brave they are by running in front of the charging bulls. Many people are injured and sometimes they are
killed. This 'running of the bulls' is known in Spanish as
'el encierro.'The half-mile route that the bulls are forced to follow takes them to the town's bullfighting arena where they will be later involved
in the bullfights.
(Image above portraying a scene from 'the running of the bulls', from Wikimedia
Commons. Author: Baltasar García. Photo licensed under Creative Commons.)
55. In a village called Buñol, near Valencia, there is a crazy festival every year on the last Wednesday of August.
It is called La Tomatina and it is the biggest tomato fight in the
world! Thousands of people flock to the village to join in the tomato-throwing event. Lorries arrive, loaded full of tomatoes. At around midday, the tomato fight begins and it lasts for one hour.
There are some important rules: - first of all, someone has to
climb up a greased pole where there is a leg of ham at the top.
(Above: greasing the pole.)
When that person manages to fetch the ham (el jamón) the tomato fight can begin!
The tomatoes must be squashed before you throw them, so that they are soft and do not hurt anyone
and everyone must stop throwing them when one hour is up.
At the end of the event, the roads are in a terrible state so people use hosepipes to clean the place.
This traditional event dates back to 1945. It has become one of the most popular summer festivals in Spain!
To read more about La Tomatina, click HERE.
