Culture

The view of Spaniards as relaxed people with a mañana attitude is, to varying degrees, beginning to change. The heat of southern areas, such as Andalusia, means the siesta is still very much a part of traditional Spanish life, but the cities are the hubs of 24/7 activity that you'll find all over Europe, Spaniards, of course, never loose their contagious knack for enjoying life.

Several invasions of the country over the centuries have led to a culturally rich landscape and people. Menorca's prehistoric monuments, the Roman ruins of Tarragona and Granada's magnificent Islamic Alhambra are testimony to the beauty that these influences have created, but Spain has left its mark on the world in other ways more recently.

In fact, it's hard to think of a country that has helped to shape contemporary culture more. Picasso, Miro and Dali are three of the 20th Century's most renowned artists; whilst Gaudi's magical buildings almost singularly created post modern architecture. Over the years, Spain has also given us the novel, the guitar and Flamenco. In recent years, it has become the home of European film-making, in the form of Almodovar, Amenabar, Bigas Luna, Alex de la Iglesias, Julio Modem and others.

One of the biggest culture shocks for foreigners that make Spain their holiday or permanent home is the timetable and you'll need to reset your body clock if you hope to live the real Spanish way of life. Things tend to kick off later, with people usually not starting work until 10.00am and then there is, of course, the famous Spanish siesta. In traditional Spanish areas this can last between two and four hours, during which everything, other than the restaurants, closes. However the main activity for this break is not sleeping but, in fact, eating. For the Spanish, lunch is the main meal of the day. After the long lunch and, perhaps, a short nap, it is time to return to work until as late as 8.00 or 9.00pm. The evening meal, lighter affair, is usually taken between 10.00pm and midnight.

Customs

Like most Latin countries, physical contact is a lot more common in Spain than in Britain, for example, it is standard to greet people, whether meeting them for the first time or just the first time that day, with a kiss on both cheeks. Likewise, friends will often walk arm-in-arm or holding hands.

Bullfighting is one of the most controversial customs still practised in Europe today. The toro bravo is an ancient race of bull that is conserved in Spain for Corridas (bullfights). The plaza (bullring) originates from the Celt-Iberian temples whereas the bullfight itself was founded by the Greeks and Romans as a form of entertainment.

Bullfights are full of symbolic actions and fights begin with the paseillo, when everybody involved enters the ring and presents themselves to the spectators. A fight is split into three tercios, and it is the final tercio that is the most famous part, when the bullfighter uses the red rag (muleta) to show his mastery of the bull, and then kills it with his sword. Opponents of bullfighting think it is an unnecessarily cruel and archaic sport whilst fans say it is an ancient art that pits man against beast.

Rather less polemic is the tradition of the fiesta. These are festivals and parties that can last up to a week, when work and sobriety are completely forgotten. Semana Santa (Easter week) sees huge celebrations all over the country. The most popular fiestas take place in Seville (Feria de Abril), Pamplona (Sanfermines) and Valencia (Las Fallas de San Jose). San Isidro is Madrid's fiesta. In reality, just about every Spanish city, town or village has its own fiesta to celebrate the festival of its patron Saint and the smaller, rural ones are as enjoyable as the larger events. Singing, dancing, eating and drinking are essential pastimes for fiesta, but these are truly family events, with everybody from your children to grandparents parading the streets.