Spain

As the birthplace and namesake of the Spanish language, Spain undoubtedly continues to have a sizable impact on the Hispanic community as a whole. Interestingly though, 16% of the population identify as native speakers of Catalan instead of Spanish, and other languages like Valencian and Galician exist too. Central to Spain is its Muslim past, as the southern region of the country, Al-Andalus, was occupied by Muslim rulers for a number of years implementing novel architecture, languages, food, music, and much more. Spain is a very traditional society, yet has pioneered progressive legislation in recent years. Integrity and honesty are very important, and there is a level of distrust towards authority as individualism blossoms. The customary greeting, when two people are sufficiently familiar with one another, is a kiss on both cheeks instead of just one. Formal titles Don and Doña are used, and most individuals have two first names. Catholicism, followed by Islam and Judaism are the largest religions in Spain. Las procesiones are related to Catholicism and are marches through the streets to celebrate religious occurrences. Semana Santa commemorates Christ’s passion, while el Día de Rayos Magos assumes the role of Christmas where children receive gifts. The bull runs in Pamplona are also a famous festivity as well as La Tomatina. Traditional clothing is seen through bullfighters and flamenco dancers. Many high-end clothing lines are also situated in Spain. Spain has exerted a massive influence on art for centuries. Salvador Dali, Francisco Goya and Pablo Picasso are all Spanish. Barcelona housed Antoni Gaudí, the mastermind architect behind La Sagrada Familia, the elaborate cathedral in Barcelona. In Literature, Don Quixote is the best-selling novel in the language’s history. The nation awards the Cervantes Prize, an award in literature comparable to the Nobel Prize. Two important cultural dances are flamenco and sardana. Museums are a big institution in Spain, with the nation housing the world-famous Prado, Guggenheim, and Picasso Museums. Spain’s signature sport is soccer, having won the World Cup in 2010 and holding La Liga, with the El Clásico rivalry. Rafael Nadal has led Spain to succeed in tennis, and other sports like basketball are emerging phenomena. The quintessential Spanish pastime, though, is bullfighting which has existed in the country for an eternity, now facing backlash for its cruelty to animals. Spain produces lots of olive oil and wine. Spanish gastronomy is dominated by tapas, which are small side dishes. Paella and gazpacho are two specific dishes which are very popular in Spain. Churros are a hot commodity for desert. Everything in Spain, namely parties and meal times, happens very late, driven by the mid-day siesta, or nap-time. Bars are open all night, and it is common to go to for a snack before meals. While many Spaniards do speak English, the majority speaks exclusively Spanish. Amongst the younger generations, lots of aspects of American culture have taken root like music. Conversely, Julio Iglesias is a Spanish singer who has found success around the world.