Spain Local Customs

  Great Fair
by jol1y
 
  • Great Fair
      Great Fair
    by jol1y
  •   Food / Drink
    by Roadquill
  • Not a perfect looking specimen
      Not a perfect looking specimen
    by jol1y
  • Jamon in window to be sliced
      Jamon in window to be sliced
    by BruceDunning
  • RAcks of hanging jamon-ham
      RAcks of hanging jamon-ham
    by BruceDunning
 

Most Viewed Local Customs in Spain

51.

Food / Drink   Barcelona

Food / Drink, Barcelona

 92 Reviews  The locals flock to get all they can of the ham and pasteries that abound around the city. We saw the real store that only sold the jamon, and yes; it is expensive no matter how you cut it, or how... 

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52.

Culture   Madrid

Culture, Madrid

 56 Reviews  In Spain, there's no need for a special reason to go out and celebrate, it's seems like the city is always prepare to go out and have good time. In Madrid, the official fiestas , by calender , are... 

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53.

April Fair   Sevilla

April Fair, Sevilla

 9 Reviews  Next to the Feria you find a huge lunapark, called "Calle del Infierno" - Hell's street. When you walk around there you understand why it got this name. You can find merry go rounds but also some... 

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54.

A matter of Lingo   Palma de Mallorca

A matter of Lingo, Palma de Mallorca

 5 Reviews  In Mallorca, anything goes. You will see old men at cafes drinking beer at ten in the morning, and young people going home from clubbing at four. There is supposedly a drinking age, but no one seems... 

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55.

FREE TAPAS   Granada

FREE TAPAS, Granada

 10 Reviews  We'd read about this, but didn't expect it to be as good as it sounds ... but it is ! We went into 5 bars, and in each one we had different tapas with each beer. Now granted they were not all to our... 

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56.

Food & Drinks   Majorca Island

Food & Drinks, Majorca Island

 5 Reviews  We just returned from Cala Millor resort and had been surprised to discover that practically noone was eating in the diners even as late as 9pm. Tourists and locals were mainly sipping on their drinks... 

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57.

Carnival   Cadiz

Carnival, Cadiz

 19 Reviews  All week long there is always something different to do and see. On the First Saturday there is a Cabalgata (parade) and a kiddie pageant. the Goddess of Carnival is also elected. On Sunday there... 

 See All 63 Local Customs in Cadiz

58.

The Feria del Caballos   Jerez de la Frontera

The Feria del Caballos, Jerez de la Frontera

 8 Reviews  The Feria del Caballo - (Horse Fair) which is held annually in early May in Jerez was a highlight of our holiday. If you want to see a real Andalucian festival with flamenco dress, equestrian pride... 

 See All 16 Local Customs in Jerez de la Frontera

59.

Language   Barcelona

Language, Barcelona

 54 Reviews  Catalunya is a bilingual community. Everybody in Catalunya do speak Spanish (or Castellano as we prefer to call it here), but in fact NOT everybody do speak Catalan (about 60% in Barcelona, less in... 

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60.

Gastronomy   Madrid

Gastronomy, Madrid

 50 Reviews  It's a fact that Madrileños love to stay out really late. They eat, they drink and dance till the wee hours, and then they eat chocolate con churros. (I guess they just dance off the fat.) San Gines... 

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61.

Semana Santa   Sevilla

Semana Santa, Sevilla

 10 Reviews  In Seville, they take Holy Week very seriously. Every day, at different times during the day, there are parades, and here is what usually happens for each parade: Groups of nazarenos in robes with... 

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62.

Luxury produce   Palma de Mallorca

Luxury produce, Palma de Mallorca

 2 Reviews  This street, storekeeper, is the equivalent of the Rue de Rivoli in Paris. Under the arcades one recovers all stores of luxury and the big dressmakers who settled in Palma. It is therefore there that... 

 See All 29 Local Customs in Palma de Mallorca

63.

FESTIVALS   Granada

FESTIVALS, Granada

 14 Reviews  This is a free techno/dance festival that takes place every spring just outside Orgiva (although in 2010 it was held in Santa Fe and was much smaller). The site is a quarry and dried-up river bed that... 

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64.

Language   Cadiz

Language, Cadiz

 5 Reviews  Angango: People that usually wear lots of gold and shout and fight about everything and anything. Aro- Shortened from the Castillano word claro which means 'of course'. Bastinazo- An extremely... 

 See All 63 Local Customs in Cadiz

65.

Language and Local Customs   Jerez de la Frontera

Language and Local Customs, Jerez de la Frontera

 6 Reviews  In the Cadiz province no one pronounces the any S in any word. So for example Despues becomes Depue and Estoy becomes Etoy or even toy. This is very useful when you are trying to understand what... 

 See All 16 Local Customs in Jerez de la Frontera

66.

City Highlights   Barcelona

City Highlights, Barcelona

 23 Reviews  During the summer time from 15th to 21st of august, everybody are just waiting to celebrate the Gracia s Party called Fiesta major de Gracia. Gracia is a area in barcelona, this area seems to be... 

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67.

Entertainement   Madrid

Entertainement, Madrid

 45 Reviews  During my weekend in Madrid, I enjoyed listening to, and watching the various musicians, playing on the streets of Madrid. Three of my favourites were the trio in my 1st picture, who played near El... 

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68.

Alcoholic Beverages   Sevilla

Alcoholic Beverages, Sevilla

 6 Reviews  Sangria is lovely, because it has lots of fruit in it and I am a big fan of fruit. It is however, rather hard to get hold of Sevilla, if you don`t know where to go. On Calle Mateus Gago, the bar... 

 See All 103 Local Customs in Sevilla

69.

SIESTA   Granada

SIESTA, Granada

 3 Reviews  Shops usually open fom about 9 in the morning and close at 2pm (in Spain the morning (mañana) is considered to be up to 2pm not 12pm). They then open again in the afternoon at about 5:30-6 until... 

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70.

Relics   Cadiz

Relics, Cadiz

 3 Reviews   the business of the relics at the Medieval times was very important. A good church or cathedral with a relic had a promising future and many incomes. Here the one in Cadiz had two, this one is from... 

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71.

Fiestas de Otono   Jerez de la Frontera

Fiestas de Otono, Jerez de la Frontera

 1 Review  During the autumn festival in September, the bars in Jerez participate in a competition called Tapa Centro. Over 50 bars take part, and a booklet is published giving the list of bars, their locations... 

 See All 16 Local Customs in Jerez de la Frontera

72.

Sundays / La Sardana   Barcelona

Sundays / La Sardana, Barcelona

 15 Reviews  If you're in Barcelona on a Sunday, try to see the people dancing the Sardana, the Catalan national dance. Try near the Cathedral. When I saw people doing the Sardana it was in the afternoon in the... 

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73.

Local Festivities   Madrid

Local Festivities, Madrid

 27 Reviews  FORUM REPLY. I have been in Madrid in May as it is a fine period for the weather between cold winter and super hot summer. No particular problem with the Feria di San Isidro; Madrid is always full of... 

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74.

Flamenco   Sevilla

Flamenco, Sevilla

 6 Reviews  I am by no means an expert on Flamenco, so I would ask you to research a little yourself - you might want to start with the link I gave you below! Flamenco is not the happy, outgoing way of dancing,... 

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75.

THE ALHAMBRA   Granada

THE ALHAMBRA, Granada

 4 Reviews  La Alhambra: es una roja fortaleza que domina la ciudad. En el Patio de los Arrayanes se reflejan los palacios y sus filigranas de piedra, en medio del perfume de las plantas aromáticas. Los... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Bullfighting

by Rupanworld

Bull fighting is an integral part of the Spanish culture and traces back its history some 1300 years ago. It was then a symbol of festivity, ceremony and great celebration. It was originally a type of sport only for the rich people. King Felipe V however, thought it to be a shame for the aristocratic people to take part in it as it tarnished their public image and since then, the common people joined this sport. While originally the fighters used to be on horseback and with arms, when common people joined and could not afford horses or arms, they started playing barefooted and without arms. It took 1000 years for this transformation. The Spanish law does not ban bullfighting although it is contended to be violent and cruel to the animals. The Barcelona city council held a vote against bullfighting in 2004, but bullfighting still continues to take place till date in the city. Many towns...

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National Pride

by DanielF

Spaniards from all regions have several common traits: they tend to be spontaneous, gregarious and have an unbridled lust for partying. And yet, with the diversity of languages and cultures that the country boasts, an exacerbated regional pride –often translating in independentism- is common in some areas. The relationship with national signs (flag, anthem…) is difficult throughout the country, as they are often linked with far-right positions. Many people still feel uncomfortable with patriotic displays of anything Spanish, as they remind of past times most people would be happy to forget. A few years back, under a conservative government, a huge Spanish flag was hoisted in Madrid's Columbus Square. Critics saw in it a vain attempt to stiffen Spain's profile in the world in a banana republic manner and, particularly, a defying gesture from the central government in Madrid to the...

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Towards a Liberal-minded Society

by DanielF

Repressed under a brutal four-decade fascist dictatorship and stigmatized by a black legend that focused on the non less brutal Catholic inquisition and conquista of America, for many years, Spain's image in the world was that of a backward country of dusty roads and black-dressed mass-going old ladies. After more than 25 years, those stereotypes abroad are only partly gone, but, in the meantime, the country has not only caught up with the rest of Europe, but after passing a number of liberal laws, including the legalisation of homosexual marriage, Spaniards are now surprised to be in the lead of progressive countries, and admired for it. In the fashion of a pendulum, after the terrible moral repression under fascism, Spanish society has turned into a liberal heaven and most people insist in making a point of living their lives the way they wish. As unbelievable as it might have seemed...

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Tapas.

by Maurizioago

Tapas are small dishes of food served hot or cold.Originally they were cured ham or chorizo (spicy sausage). Today these could be anything. Gambas (deep fried shrimps); stuffed peppers, etc.

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Words

by Martin_S.

Words and the ablility to communicate are part and parcel of travel, especially in Spain where if you do not speak Spanish it may be difficult to find someone who speaks English.Here are a few words that we jotted down to help at least in the restaurants.Choco = CuttlefishAtune = TunaDorados = Type of red fishCalamare = SquidGambas = ShrimpBocas Gordas = Crab legsPez = SwordfishPulpoa = OctopusPollo = ChickenBacalao = CodMariscos = SeafoodCervezas = BeerGarbanzos = ChickpeasFresas = StrawberriesAjos = GarlicQueso = CheeseCordero = LambNaranjos = OrangesCarnes = MeatPatatas = PotatoesMisperos = LoquatCebolla = OnionCabara = GoatBrochetas = on a spitGracias = ThanksBienvenidos = WelcomeBarrio = DistrictIglesias = ChurchMoline = WindmillPuente = BridgePuerta = Portal/GateBanos = BathsCasa = HouseMirador = ViewMercadillo = MarketBicicleta = Bicycle

Restaurant Etiquette in Spain

by DanielF

When sharing a meal with Spaniards, unless someone is inviting the whole party, the bill will be evenly shared by all the members of the group. Very rarely separate bills are requested to the restaurant staff. However welcome in most cases, tipping is not expected in Spain. Although service is always included in the bill, many people do leave a few coins on the table after getting their change, but never more than a few euros. When using a credit card, most people will not leave any tip, and if at all, they will also just leave a few coins on the table. In very fancy restaurants, it is not appropriate to leave any tip at all.Do not rely on an equivalent level of service to the one expected in countries where tipping is customary. If you are lucky to stumble upon a friendly waiter or waitress, they will be genuinely so. But since most of them are overworked, that is a rare occurrence.

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The unique Spanish Life Style

by DanielF

I find that it is refreshing, in today's world of increasing globalization, to visit a country that keeps a distinct life style, in many aspects even far away from that of its closer neighbors. I have heard many Spaniards complaining about their long working hours and having little time to be with their families and friends. The nine-to-five routine is indeed rare to find in Spain and many people will only finish their works after 8 pm (although they benefit from long lunch breaks of up to two hours). However, I do not agree that this really bothers their personal lives, as I feel that Spaniards stretch their days to the maximum and try to get the most of them. Everything is done later here than in most of the rest of the world, from meals to going out, or going to bed. That results in days that seem to be much longer as elsewhere. At the expense of less sleep, of course, but that is...

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Coffee

by Wowmoment

Coffee in Spain is almost always excellent but you need to know what to order to save disappointment.Order Coffee and you will probably be served an Espresso sized strong coffee.If you want a larger sized weaker cup Americano is generally understood.If you want milk and ask for Con Leche , you will get a very milky cup.If you prefer less milk than that ask for Cafe Cortado .

So, you're driving around...

by iandsmith

So, you're driving around Spain and you're wondering what all those huge black bulls are by the roadside. If you're really observant you'll also notice that there are no billboards in Spain. What's the connection I hear you thinking. Well, they used to have billboards but they (sensibly in my opinion) decided to ban them. However, since the bull is such a symbol of Spain and there was an outcry, they decided to leave some of billboards shaped like a bull which used to advertise a common alcoholic beveridge called, you guessed it, 'El Toro'.Unfortunately, only part of the above is correct. Luckily, fellow vt member "ilargitxo" put me on the straight and narrow."I want to correct one comment you did about the road billboards in Spain, with abull shape. The drink they wanted to advertise was not named "El Toro" was named"Veterano" and the billboards with the shape of a bull are because the...

Habla Cristiano!!!!

by blint

Speak Christian!!!A curiosity of Spain is that the language is called Español, Castillano or Christiano in Spanish. Español is a direct translation of Spanish. Castillano comes from the province of Castilla la Mancha which is the accent or dialect which became the Spanish standard.Christiano, which is the one I find most curious, has to come from the time that the Arabs ruled much of Spain therefore creating this idea of Christiano being a language. Imagine some one in Britain, America, Australia or New Zealand saying "Speak Christian, boy!" or Others saying "Speak Muslim" or "Agnostic"!!!!!!!

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Hi everyone, I really need some help to decide where to bring my young family this year for holiday. I am keen on going to the... 

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A: all there is child friendly catering to families like yours. Great area indeed. y ou can check on destination above tips by posters like us or the tourist office... 

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