Spanish Culture
For thousands of years Spain has been one of the cultural centers of Europe known for tapas, sunshine, beaches, Flamenco dancing, music and bullfights. The Iberian nation of Spain boasts a distinctly vibrant culture overflowing with bravado and tradition. From the food and entertainment to the social conventions, Spain stands out from other European countries with its distinct blend of swagger and charm.
The many and varied cultures that have gone into the making of Spain — those of the Castilians, Catalonians, Lusitanians, Galicians, Basques, Romans, Arabs, Jews, and Roma (Gypsi among other peoples) — are renowned for their varied cuisines, customs, and prolific contributions to the world’s artistic heritage. The country’s Roman conquerors left their language, roads, and monuments, while many of the Roman Empire’s greatest rulers were Spanish, among them Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius. The Moors, who ruled over portions of Spain for nearly 800 years, left a legacy of fine architecture, lyric poetry, and science and the Roma contributed the haunting music called the cante jondo (a form of flamenco).
Holidays and Festivals
Spain has a seemingly never-ending calendar of celebrations, fiestas, holidays, and cultural events. Their public events are family friendly and usually involve parades, horses, lots of wine, and the closing of stores and schools. Here are some of the major holidays and festival seasons:
Autumn
Diá de la Hispanidad, a national holiday (October 12)
All Saints Day (November 1)
Winter
Constitution Day (December 6)
Immaculate Conception (December 8)
Christmas (December 25)
Three Kings Day, when the Spanish exchange Christmas gifts (January 6)
Andalusia Day (February 28)
Carnaval, colorful parades and celebrations (week long celebration before Ash Wednesday)
Spring
Semana Santa or Holy Week, solemn processions (during the week before Easter)
Feria, a spring carnival each town hosts (dates vary, week long festivities throughout the Spring)
Spanish Labor Day (May 1)
Summer
Feast of San Juan which is celebrated with bonfires on the beach (June 23)
Running of the Bulls festival of San Fermin (July 6-14)
Fiesta del Carmen, fishing boat flotillas (July 15)
Running of the Bulls/the San Fermin
The fiestas of San Fermin are celebrated in Irunea/Pamplona, in the region of Navarra, every year from the 6th to the 14th of July. They have become internationally known because of the running of the bulls, where the bulls are lead through the streets of the old quarter as far as the bull ring by runners.
For more information, visit: USA Today – Spain, Running of the Bulls
Bullfighting
This information can also be found in our ‘Sports’ section.
Bullfighting is an iconic tradition in Spain and one of its defining cultural characteristics. Deplored by some and adored by others, bullfighting is a bloody and violent spectacle that straddles the boundaries between art and brutality. Spanish bullfighting was first brought to the attention of the Western world in Ernest Hemingway’s novel “A Sun Also Rises.” It remains a curious attraction for many travelers in Spain, despite the ongoing disputes between moral activists and die-hard bullfighting aficionados.
For more information, visit:
USA TODAY – Travel Tips
WhatSpain – Bullfighting
Siesta
“La Siesta” is one of Spain’s best-known customs. Many Spaniards take a midday break from work or school to eat lunch and relax and some businesses close for a few hours each afternoon. The exact origins of the siesta are unknown, but Spanish people have embraced this custom for many centuries, partly to avoid the midday heat and partly as a cultural tradition designed to slow down the pace of life and to unite the family. Most people living and working in major cities, such as Madrid and Barcelona, no longer take siestas, but the custom still remains prominent in provincial areas.
Flamenco
Flamenco consists of staccato dancing, castanets, hand clapping, and passionate guitar picking. Originally practiced by gypsies, flamenco has grown into one of Spain’s most popular musical genres. The southern region of Andalusia features the best flamenco in the country, especially in such cities as Seville and Granada.
For more information on Spanish Culture, visit:
Travel Tips USA Today – Information Culture Food Entertainment Spain
Soldier’s Wife Crazy Life Blog – Living in Rota Spain
Sports
From La Liga and teams in the Champions League, like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, watching soccer definitely tops the chart of favorite sports in Spain. But there are many others to be enjoyed as well: motorcycle racing and Formula 1 world championships, athletics championships, marathons, water sports competitions, and the Vuelta Ciclista cycle race around Spain to name a few. The competitive spirit is alive and well in Spain!
Soccer/Football (Futbol)
With football being the national sport of Spain, the fans here are some of the most loyal and passionate in Europe. Football is the most popular sport in Spain. La Liga or Primera División (The Spanish League) is considered to be one of the world’s best competitions. Successful teams in recent European competitions are Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Sevilla, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad, and Atlético Madrid. Real Madrid and Barcelona have dominated the soccer league for much of its history and created an intimate rivalry. Real Madrid has been dubbed by many as the most successful soccer club in the world.
The Spanish national football team has qualified for the FIFA World Cup tournament thirteen times since 1930. In 2010, Spain defeated the Netherlands in the final to win the tournament for the first time. In the European Championship they were champions in 1964, 2008, and 2012 and runners-up in 1984.
For more information, visit:
LaLiga.es/en
Basketball
Considered to be one of the best programs in the world behind the NBA, basketball has become quite a popular sport in Spain, second in popularity only to football. Plus, with Spanish NBA superstars like Pau Gasol turning heads and creating even more hype in Spain’s basketball scene, Spain has been garnering much more international attention. The top Spanish League is a member of ULEB and the top Spanish League teams compete in Europe, most notably in the Euroleague and Eurocup, and also under the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) Europe umbrella in the FIBA Europe Cup. The Spanish teams also compete in a national domestic cup competition each year, called the Copa del Rey de Baloncesto, which is played by the top eight teams in the standings of the Liga ACB at the end of the first half of the regular season.
Spain’s ACB basketball league, organized and regulated by FIBA, consists of 18 professional basketball teams. Each team up against every other team twice (once at home and once away) for a combined 34 season games. The team that comes out with the most victories at the end of Spain’s basketball season wins the ACB and is a shoe-in for national tournament play.
Basketball Tournaments in Spain include: ACB (Season-long tournament), Copa del Rey de Baloncesto (a National tournament between Spain’s top eight basketball teams), Supercopa de Españ a de Baloncesto (a National tournament between ACB winner, Copa del Rey winner, and two other top teams), the FIFA World Cup (the International tournament held every four years) and the FIBA World Championship (another International tournament held every four years).
For more information, visit:
Liga ACB
Motorcycle racing and Formula 1
Spanish riders are used to finishing the world championship seasons ranked toward the top. These sporting achievements are reflected in the commitment and support of the sport’s loyal fans. They make sure that the spectacle on the track is accompanied by a great atmosphere, both on the stands and outside the circuit. With good reason too, because Spain is lucky enough to host four World Championship Motorcycle Racing events. So, if you are looking to enjoy top-level competition and see the best riders in action, you’ll have plenty of opportunities in Spain.
For more information, visit:
Motorcycle Racing
Formula 1 Spain
Marathons and Ironman
There are many city marathons throughout Spain, like those in Madrid and Barcelona for example. Also held are many more casual ‘fun runs’. If you like extreme competitions, don’t miss the Ironman event in Lanzarote.
Spain Marathon Calendar
Sailing
Spain is a paradise for those who love regattas. There are many regattas in summer especially and you can also find many windsurfing and kite surfing competitions. Additionally, it’s a location where you can sail year-round.
For more information, visit:
Spain.info – Sailing
Cycling
Whether watching the Vuelta a España (Spanish for “Tour of Spain”) or actually getting out to ride yourself is of interest, Spain has opportunities for both!
For more information, visit:
La Vuelta a Espana
Best Cycling Routes of Spain
Self-Guided Cycling in Spain
Bullfighting
This information can also be found in our ‘Spanish Culture’ section. Bullfighting is an iconic tradition in Spain and one of its defining cultural characteristics. Deplored by some and adored by others, bullfighting is a bloody and violent spectacle that straddles the boundaries between art and brutality. Spanish bullfighting was first brought to the attention of the Western world in Ernest Hemingway’s novel “A Sun Also Rises.” It remains a curious attraction for many travelers in Spain, despite the ongoing disputes between moral activists and die-hard bullfighting aficionados.
For more information, visit:
Travel Tips USA Today Bullfighting Spain
WhatSpain.com Bullfighting Spain
Other sports
This calendar provided by the link includes other sports like golf, skiing, horse riding, hiking, etc. The contents are updated regularly so you can find the dates and venues for your favorite events: Spain.info – Espana Sporting Events
This website has additional information on sports in Spain: Spain.info – Espana Sport
If you are interested in lesser known sports based on centuries of tradition, you might visit this link to learn more: Enforex.com Traditional Sports in Spain