People & Culture

Culture

History logs Spanish culture to have gone as far back as 30-50000BC. Then the Iberians marched in from North Africa, setting up a "high culture" in the South of Spain. Then the Celts came and settled in with them, followed centuries later by the Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans, Goths, Moors, Visigoths, in that order. Then there were alliances with Germans and Austrians, and finally the French. After all that, Spain gained a foothold in its own land. Fast forward to the dictatorship of Franco, fast forward again to a democratic constitutional monarchy, the Spain we know today.

Whew! No wonder Spain is such a heterogeneous, colorful and passionate culture. Going around Spain, you will find vestiges of this multi-cultural, vivid past in artifacts, buildings, geological findings, faces, traits and habits—traces of which their colonial footprints have left behind in every country they have conquered in the world.

Their culture is trademarked by bullfights, Flamenco (dance, song and guitar), fiestas and food. Even in the 21st century, folklore dies hard. Catholicism reigns. Even their festivals are marked by Catholic traditions. All their global conquests are marked by Catholic predominance.

In a few “F” words Spain may be best described: food, fiesta, Flamenco, fashion, fun and frivolity. Not in order of precedence.

People

In Spain, family is paramount. The Spanish have been known for their love of family, children and the elderly, such that one’s work is tailored to suit social and family life, never the other way around. Old age homes are simply un-cool for a great majority of Spaniards.

It’s been said that Spain’s genuine wealth is in the extra-large heart of its people, who are among the most generous, jovial and hospitable in the world. Your inch of interest in learning their language or way of life will earn you a mile of assistance and encouragement from the natives, with much warmth and gusto.

The Spaniards must have their wine, women, song and siesta. Never expect them to be on time for time is at their mercy. They are staunch adherents to the maxim, "never do today what you can put off till tomorrow." In one word, "mañana," the literal translation of which is tomorrow, but NEVER means tomorrow.

Breaking the rules is a favorite pastime, but only next to football and partying. Dining is almost a religion. Singing is as breathing. Creativity is a genetic predisposition. Fashion is a tradition. Macho (for men, that is) is an unwritten norm from age 8 to 80, and then some. Don’t dare challenge that. Gambling is an incurable proclivity.

Of the Spaniards, Cervantes drove it home: "Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be!"