Spanish customs

Spanish culture has many different customs and traditions. The siesta, the special division of the day with no less than 4 meal times and then there are the dozens of different types of Tapas. There are many other special, "crazy" customs from the Spanish culture. For example, what about the bullfights in Pamplona or La Tomatina in Buñol. Below is a small selection of the sometimes very unusual customs of Spanish culture.

Siesta

Many stores, supermarkets and other public places in Spanish towns and cities close between 2 and 5 p.m. To many people, siesta is known as the afternoon nap of those who work in Spain. However, this is by no means the case. Only a small part of the Spanish population actually takes an afternoon nap. Since the time of siesta is also sometimes the time when lunch is eaten in Spain, many Spaniards choose to spend this time with family or in a café for a sumptuous lunch. The Spanish lunch that takes place between 2 and 3 p.m. is similar to the evening meal eaten in the Netherlands. Large hot dishes that are often eaten with the whole family. After the Spaniards finish their afternoon nap or their extensive lunch, they return to work until 7 or 9 pm.

Tapas

After the extended lunch, tapas is often eaten between 6 and 7 p.m. with colleagues. Almonds, olives, ham, chorizo and shrimp are just a few examples of tapas. These small bites are mainly used to whet the appetite, because around 10 p.m., the people of Spain will begin their last meal of the day, dinner. Dinner is much lighter than the Spaniards' lunch. This is why tapas are eaten between lunch and dinner.

La Tomatina

Finally; La Tomatina this is a festival celebrating the harvesting of new ripe tomatoes from the land. The festival begins every last Wednesday of August at 10 a.m. with a ham being hung on a greased pole. The start of the tomato fight takes place as soon as someone manages to get the ham off the greased pole. At that moment, trucks full of tomatoes enter the Plaza del Pueblo and the fight can begin! After exactly one hour, the final signal will be given and all locals and tourists make their way to the nearest garden hose to get rid of the tomato residue. Since 1957 the tomato fight was officially authorized and since 1980 tomatoes have even been handed out by the municipality. The next tomato fight will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2013. During a Spanish course, Buñol is definitely worth a visit.

Photo by renotahoe