Spanish Traditions and Customs
We’ve compiled a list of 10 Spanish
Introduction:
 Best known among Spain’s folkloristic
traditions are certainly Flamenco and
bullfights. You will find bullfights indeed
throughout the country, the most popular
event perhaps being the “Running of Bulls”
during the Sanfermines in Pamplona. But
bullfights are part and parcel of any Fiesta.
 Flamenco, on the other hand, is the musical
tradition in the country’s south, in particular
in Andalusia. That is where you have to
move to see and listen first rate dancing and
guitar playing. In April takes place Feria de
Abril, in Seville, an entire week of singing
and dancing and trying that great Sherry
wine, those delicious tasty snacks called
“Tapas” and more Sherry wine … and if you
like this sort of things, you REALLY should
not miss that event.
 If you can arrange it (and find a hotel room)
better arrive to Seville already two weeks
before Feria, and see this city’s other
outstanding event: Semana Santa, Easter
week, with its world-famous processions.
 Another most popular event of religious
origin is El Rocio, a traditional pilgimship to
the village El Rocio Foto in the province of
Huelva, in May. This pilgrimship anyhow is
not too solemn and serious, Flamenco and
wine being indispensable components.
Follow the thousands who each year travel
there and have yourself a ball.
 Another outstanding Fiesta are “Las Fallas
de San José” in Valencia, in March, when
all the city becomes the scenery of an
enormous party with lots of good mood and
excellent fireworks. Next to Valencia there is
the little town Buñol which hosts each year
on the last Wednesday of August La
Tomatina, the world’s largest tomato fight. It
is unclear why the town’s inhabitants started
over 50 years ago the tradition of throwing
mature tomatoes at each other, but today
the event attracts thousands of visitors from
all over the world.
 A wild week can also be spent in San
Sebastian during February, when La
Tamburrada takes place.
 Madrid has its Fiesta, “San Isidro”, in May. If
you like bullfights, don’t miss it.
 Carnival is popular in all the country, the
best is in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, but if you
are at the peninsula, Cadiz and Sitges are
the places to go.
10 Spanish Customs
 In Spain, with its rich culture, history, and
cuisine, you are sure to do just that! From
the late lunches and dinners to the kiss- kiss
greetings, you will notice some surprising
cultural differences on your Spanish holiday.
customs that guests often notice during
their stay at one of Paradores many
luxury hotels in Spain.
1. DOUBLE CHEEK KISSING
 In Spain, people greet each other and say
goodbye with a kiss on each cheek. Don’t
be mistaken – these aren’t wet, sloppy
kisses! In fact, these aren’t really proper
kisses at all. People usually touch their right
cheeks together and make a kissing sound,
then repeat the process on the left side.
 People don’t do this every morning when
they come into work, but if you meet a friend
for drinks or are introduced to someone
new, the double cheek kiss is given to say
hello and goodbye. Women are always
greeted this way, but two men shake hands
with each other unless they are relatives.
2. COFFEE
 Spain has a strong coffee culture, and it is
not uncommon to drink four or five cups of
coffee a day at all hours of the day. Café
con leche, which is half strong black coffee
and half milk, is by far the most popular way
to drink java in Spain. You might be asked
how you want your milk – caliente (hot),
templada (warm), or fría (cold).
 If a café con leche is too big for you, you
can try a café cortado instead, which is a
smaller version with only a touch of milk. Or
if you’re craving something stronger, try a
café solo, which is a small glass of nothing
but strong black coffee.
3. BEER AND WINE
 If you pop into a bar during your visit to
Spain, don’t be surprised if you only see
one or two options for draught beer. Unlike
bars in other parts of the world, many
establishments in Spain have very few
beers on tap. Often, thirsty patrons simply
ask the waiter for una caña, which is a small
glass of beer, or una doble, which is a larger
glass, without specifying the brand or type.
 The same goes for Spanish wine. Even
though Spain is known for its excellent wine
culture, it is common in many Spanish bars
and restaurants to simply order vino tinto
(red wine) or vino blanco (white wine)
without specifying further. At Paradores
hotels, however, guests can choose which
type of wine they want to try from a carefully
selected wine menu.
4. BAR LITTER
 In some bars, it is okay to throw used
napkins and toothpicks on the ground.
Especially in a packed bar where everyone
is standing up, it is fine to drop those two
 items on the floor. Staff come around to
sweep them up regularly.
5. LATE LUNCHES AND DINNERS
 Spanish lunch and dinner times are later
than in many other countries. Lunch is
normally eaten at two or three in the
afternoon, and dinner around ten at night.
Lunch is typically a large meal, with a
starter, a main dish and dessert. Dinner is
normally very light.
6. NIGHTLIFE
 Nightlife in Spain is as good as you’ve
heard. Bars and clubs are open all night,
and many people party until six in the
morning, sometimes stopping for some
churros and hot chocolate at sunrise before
finally going to bed.
7. SIESTA
 The Spanish siesta is one of the country’s
most well-known traditions. Nowadays, few
Spaniards are able to commute all the way
home to have a midday nap, but many
shops still close at lunchtime – usually from
2 pm to 4 or 5 pm. Major chains, however,
are normally open all day without
interruption.
8. PERSONAL SPACE
 People in Spain make more physical
contact during conversations, so don’t be
alarmed if someone touches you on the
shoulder or stands very close while having a
chat. The concept of personal space is not
as strong as it is in other countries.
9. Unlucky day
 In Spain, Tuesday the 13th, not Friday the
13th, is considered to be an unlucky day. A
common saying warns against doing
anything important on this day: ni te cases,
ni te embarques (don’t get married or
embark [on a voyage by ship or plane).
10. SURNAMES
 Everyone has two surnames, which they
take from their father (first surname) and
their mother (second surname). A woman
keeps her surnames when she gets married
instead of adopting the surnames of her
husband.
7 Cultural Traditions in Spain
- When you study abroad in Barcelona, there
are a few cultural celebrations throughout
the country that are worth looking into
attending while you’re in Spain!
Here are seven local celebrations for your list.
1.) SEMANA SANTA
- A religious festival, Semana Santa (Holy
Week) is a big deal in Spain. It
commemorates the Passion of Christ in the
Catholic tradition the week before Easter.
Each region has its own distinct traditions,
but flamboyant parades fill the streets all
over the country with festivities beginning on
Palm Sunday and finishing with dramatic
processions on Maundy Thursday and
Good Friday. You’ll see life-sized floats of
biblical characters being carried through the
streets, people walking with crosses or
candles and religious spectacles throughout
the week.
2.) CARNIVAL
- If you want to celebrate Carnival in Spain,
hop on a flight to Tenerife in the Canary
Islands and head up to the capital city,
Santa Cruz. It may be small in size, but
each February the island hosts the largest
Carnival celebrations in the world after Rio
de Janeiro in Brazil. For two weeks, you’ll
find street parties packed with revelers in
colorful costumes dancing into the earliest
hours, plenty of loud music to keep them
moving and the vote for the carnival queen
from a number of contestants who show off
their elaborate outfits. Watch for the Ash
Wednesday tradition, “entierro de la
sardina” or the “burial of the sardine” during
which a giant sardine made of paper is
carried along in a “funeral procession” and
people dressed as wailing widows follow
along, pretending to mourn.
3.) LA TOMATINA
- The Valencian town of Buñol is bathed red
with squashed tomatoes during La
Tomatina on the last Wednesday of August.
Everyone gathers and an hour-long fight
ensues, with tomatoes being smashed
before they are thrown to limit injuries. The
yearly tradition happens in the town square.
It began in 1945, was banned in the 1950s
then reinstated in 1957. While it was once a
free-for-all, it is now well-regulated and
promoted by the tourism board. The mess,
as you can imagine, is unbelievable, but it is
cleared away by fire truck hoses and, bonus
—the citric acid in the tomatoes actually
gives everything in the an extra thorough
clean.
4.) THE FALLAS OF VALENCIA
- around the world for a continuous street
party known as “the fire festival.” A bit of
history: The festival commemorates Saint
Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. In
the Middle Ages, carpenters would hang
planks of wood to support their candles
while working. These would be burned in
the spring to celebrate the end of the darker
winter days. They later added clothing to
give their planks personality and everything
 unfolded from there into what it is today— out for the Three Kings and awake in the
the burning of giant figures (‘ninots’)—often morning to find the presents near their shoe.
well-known politicians or celebrities. At 8am, Families gather to share a roscón de reyes,
brass bands and firecrackers wake the city. a traditional cake for the day. It’s also
Cue days full of processions, fireworks, and known as a tortell in Catalonia. Hidden
plenty of noise. It culminates with the inside is a fave bean and a small king.
explosion of ninots that have been stuffed Whoever gets the king will have good luck
full of fireworks in the Plaza Ayuntamiento, for the rest of the year. Whoever gets the
the street lights switched off and firefighters bean has to pay for the cake.
in position. The festival has been included in
UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of
Humanity list.
5. ESTA MAJOR DE GRACIA
- In August, blocks compete to win a prize for
the best decorated streets around the
neighborhood of Gràcia in Barcelona. Each
year there’s a different theme. High
standards have been set, creativity and
originality reign and the competition is fierce
with canopies of decorations hanging above
you between the buildings and continuing
onto balconies. It becomes a week-long
street party and is accompanied by about
600 concerts, workshops, parades, and
other activities and events. Keep an eye
open for the famous and impressive
castellers who assemble themselves into
human towers. There’s an emphasis on
community here and you’ll likely find long
tables in the streets so everyone can enjoy
traditional Catalan food together.
6. SAINT FERMIN AND RUNNING OF THE BULLS
- A rocket launch in Pamplona on the 6th of
July marks the beginning of San Fermín, a
9- day festival which includes its most
famous event, the running of the bulls. Over
1 million people attend what has become
one of the most popular festivals in Spain,
spread to the English-speaking world
through Ernest Hemingway’s The Sun Also
Rises in which the festival is central to the
plot. There are processions, traditional
dances, and plenty of noise—especially
during El Struendo (“The Roar”) when
people gather at the town hall and, for
several hours, make as much noise as
possible. The festival culminates with the
singing of Pobre de Mí (“Poor Me”),
candlelight and fireworks.
7. DIA DE LOS REYES MAGOS
- Though Santa makes an appearance in
many Spanish households these days,
traditionally, it was the Three Kings who
brought the gifts—not on Christmas, but on
January 6th which marks Dia de los Reyes
Magos, or “Three Kings Day”, also known
as Epiphany. Celebrations begin the day
before with a parade re-enacting the arrival
of the Three Kings. Children leave a shoe