Typical Spanish social customs

Many tourists are surprised by Spanish customs. Spaniards have pretty much embraced slogans like “Spain is different” or that “Typical Spanish” vibe we even encounter at breakfast and all the meaning they carry. The truth is that many of their habits and customs clearly differentiate them from other neighboring cultures. Let’s review some of them:

-The siesta: perhaps one of the most noted. Jokingly called “Spanish yoga,” it is recognized by doctors as a very healthy habit for our circulation and for preventing stress. It involves sleeping for a bit after the main meal of the day, at midday. Between 15 – 30 minutes is recommended and more than enough to recharge your batteries and get back to work.

-The schedules: from a foreigner's perspective, in Spain we tend to delay everything: our shops are open until much later, we also have our main meal, eat dinner, and usually go to bed later. Perhaps the good climate also encourages nightlife in our towns and, especially, cities to last longer and be much more frequent than in the rest of Europe.

-Going for tapas: a custom that always catches the attention of foreigners, although for many it is quite a discovery and many adopt it once the initial surprise has passed: going for “tapas” or “pinchos” consists of having a drink with a small bite to accompany it, most often standing at the bar. In many Spanish cities, going for tapas from one place to another is an absolutely established social habit.

-The Mediterranean diet: olive oil is the main fat used in Spanish meals, something that also catches the eye of some foreign visitors who are more fond of consuming butter. Also notable is the high consumption of grains, fruits, vegetables, fish, and white meats.

-Popular festivals: popular festivities and celebrations are traditional in Spain. Any town or city has its festival weeks, which flood the streets with color and spectacle. Among others with international impact, we find the Seville April Fair, the Fallas of Valencia, the Sanfermines of Pamplona, the San Isidro festivities in Madrid... but the truth is that Spanish popular festivals, which take place anywhere in Spain, are a whole world for visitors from other countries to discover.

-Family life: lots of street life but also plenty of home celebrations that gather the whole family around the table. Spaniards usually celebrate birthdays and, often, saint's days as well, with the family. But it is also typical to get together for lunch on Sundays, most often at the parents' or grandparents' house.

These are some of our “Typical Spanish” customs. Which one is your favorite?