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Spanish Culture

The Jerez Horse Fair (Feria de Caballo), which is traditionally the first week in May, is an exciting and lively event that brings the entire city to the Gonzalo Hontoria Fairgrounds.

Spain’s cultural heritage is one of the world’s richest and most varied, and is the result of the interaction of many interesting elements over the course of thousands of years of history. A great deal may be attributed to the geographical location of the Iberian Peninsula, situated as it is halfway between Europe and Africa, and between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. Equally influential have been the many peoples who have settled here, dreaming and creating from the Paleolithic to the present.

Spain is a Christian nation wherein around 77% of the population is part of the Catholic Church, while 20.0% are non-believers or atheists, and 2.1% follow other religions that include Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism. Immigrants from other European countries like Romania, Morocco, Germany, and Britain are large in number. Other immigrants that form a considerable population are Chinese, Indian, and those from several sub-Saharan African countries.

Fiestas and festivals are a very important part of Spanish culture and they greatly influence the social life of the locals. There are more than 3,000 festivals, fiestas, and fêtes that are celebrated every year. The Spaniards are fun-loving people and are accustomed to these fests. Almost every town and village has its own annual fair that lasts anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. Village festivals involve the locals going on a pilgrimage to a certain shrine either in horse-drawn wagons or on horseback. Foreigners are always welcomed to join in the fun and laughter.

From costumes and processions, to music, dancing, and feasting, you can see why Spain’s culture is considered to be the most colorful. Larger festivals include flamenco, bullfights, circuses, fun-fairs, fireworks, concerts, music competitions, and recitals. The most famous, however, would have to be the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, which takes place during the ‘Fiesta de San Fermin’.

To learn more about Spain’s culture, please visit:
España – Art and Culture
Historyplex
Countries and their Cultures

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