Customs and Culture of Spain

Flamenco

Flamenco is so much more than a dance – it is a Spanish art form, with as many as fifty different styles or palos. The earliest mention of Flamenco was in 1774 and it is still immensely popular today. The flamenco songs are rich in Spanish folklore and tell stories of love, history and politics. The precise origins of Flamenco are unclear: it certainly evolved from the Gitanos or gypsies of Spain, but was also influenced by Andalusian folk songs and dances. There are also Moorish and Jewish influences – as one would expect from a country with such a diverse cultural heritage. Even the origins of the word Flamenco are not straightforward: some think the word derives from the Spanish flamende (Flemish) others believe, it has more romantic roots and comes from the Arabic for ‘peasant in flight’ – Felag Mendu.

There are three forms of Flamenco: El Cante (the song); El Baile (the dance); and La Guitarra (the guitar playing). Early flamenco was simply El Cante, accompanied only by rhythmical hand clapping. In the Golden Age of Flamenco (1869-1910) a whole café culture sprung up around the Flamenco and Cafes Cantantes were hugely popular.

Modern day Flamenco, or Nuevo Flamenco, shows a diverse range of influences: from pop to rock, rumba, jazz and salsa.

It is well worth seeking out a Flamenco performance away from the tourist hot spots – and being transported back through history by the music and the dance.

Links

Wikipedia - an open content, free encyclopedia: Information Flamenco

Flamenco World: A site dedicated to Flamenco

Flamenco, un arte español, un arte gitano (Be warned - this one has music!)

Fiestas and Festivals

Fiestas and festivals are so much a part of Spanish life it can be hard for the non-Spaniard to understand. In a modern world where people have become increasingly isolated from their neighbours it is refreshing to find Spain still so community-minded: every single city, town and village, no matter how small, has its own special day of celebration, when most residents will take to the streets and socialise with their neighbours. There are 15,000 fiestas a year throughout Spain, each one a unique mix of spectacle, music, dance, parade, drama, fireworks and costumes – plus special festival food and drink. In recent years there has been a concerted effort by the Spanish to maintain this important part of their culture and heritage – with a resurgence of some festivals which had started to die out. Almost all fiestas mark dates in the Catholic Church calendar, but can trace their origins back much further to Pagan times. Spain’s vibrant history is also commemorated, for example the famous Fiesta de Moros Y Christianos (Moors and Christians) in Alicante, Valencia mirrors around 150 other ‘Moors and Christians’ celebrations that take place all over Spain.

Bear in mind that when fiestas happen, everything else in the vicinity stops – everyone joins in and all amenities will be shut for the duration. If you plan to visit a festival and will need accommodation you will need to book a hotel room months in advance for the larger fiestas (and you may want to consider accommodation out of town if you want any sleep!) Likewise, restaurants will need to be booked well in advance. Although Spaniards are generally very welcoming to visitors who wish to enjoy the spectacle of a fiesta do remember that it is not just a party – a fiesta is closely connected with religious beliefs and should be treated with due respect.

Links

A site dedicated to information on Spanish Fiestas

Spain Info: Festivals in Spain

Bullfighting

Bullfighting is a controversial and emotive subject but, while you need never see a bullfight while living in Spain if you choose not to, it is a significant part of Spanish life and culture, indeed it is the National Sport or Fiesta Nacional, and thus is included here. Thousands go to a bullfight every week. It is estimated that around 1 million people a year in Spain visit a bullfight.

Bullfighting in some form has existed for millennia – there are wall paintings in Greece dating back to 2000 BC. In Spain, the tradition can be traced as far back as 711 AD. It was originally a sport for the aristocracy, who performed the bullfight on horseback, but around 1724 King Felipe V attempted to ban it, fearing it was leading his people astray. It was taken over by 'commoners' who couldn’t afford horses and thus bullfighting as we know it today began to evolve – with the matadors on foot.

Bullfighting is a huge spectacle, steeped in tradition and custom – with accomplished Matadors achieving much celebrity in Spain. The Matadors wear a ‘suit of lights’ (traje de luces), which is usually covered in gold embroidery and takes 6 people over a month to complete. The bulls used in bullfighting – the Toro Bravo – are a breed dating back centuries which are now only conserved in Spain.

A bullfight is a complex event with separate stages – even the audience seating can be confusing, with different prices charged for a seat in the sun or the shade. The Matador initially observes while his assistant (and the Matador is usually male – though there are a few female bullfighters) enters the ring and waves a bright yellow and red cape at the bull – this enables the Matador to assess the bull’s temperament. The bull is then weakened (and enraged) by the Picadores (several fighters on armoured horses) who spear the bull several times. Only then does the Matador enter the ring and begin the Faena, which is the most skilled section of the fight – it is a dance with death and the Matador will endeavour to thrill the audience with a drawn-out performance before killing the bull usually with a sword thrust between the shoulder blades. Then 'trophies' are awarded – one of the bull’s ears or its tail – depending on how well the bullfighter is deemed to have performed.

Not every Spaniard is a bullfighting enthusiast – in fact many abhor the practice, but it is still a part of mainstream Spanish culture: whether it is a part that you wish to experience is your own personal decision.

Bull-Running

This is closely connected with bullfighting – the bulls are ‘run’ to the pens where later in the day they will be taken to the bullfighting ring and killed. The most famous bull runs take place in Pamplona, every day between July 7th and 14th every year. It is apart of the festival to honour San Fermin, the patron saint of Navarre – whom the runners sing to before they embark on their run. Thousands of young men (nowadays from all over the world) take part – and it consists of a frantic dash for half a mile through the streets of Pamplona, with several bulls in hot pursuit. 14 people have been killed and hundreds injured since records were first kept in 1910 – a lot of the danger now comes from the fact that so many people take part the streets are dangerously overcrowded.

History of Bull fighting

Information on Bull Fighting

Day to Day Living

The traditional Spanish Siesta, a few hours off in the hottest part of the day, ie., the afternoon, is beginning to die out but it still shapes the pattern of the day. Most businesses split their opening hours into two distinct blocks, with a 2 to 3 hour break in the middle. It is also very typical to take a stroll or pareo in the early evening, maybe ending up in a tapas bar. Dinner is served later than anywhere else in Europe – around 10pm and this impacts on Spain’s nightlife with many clubs not opening their doors until midnight and revellers spilling out at daybreak.

Food Links

Mediterranean Food

Ethnic Cuisine

Budget Eating and Drinking

Food on the Costa Blanca

Spanish Food

Football

Spaniards are passionate about football (futbol) – they call it 'Deporte Rey' or 'King of Sports.' When an important match is being played the country grinds to a halt – the streets clear and the shops close (which is a bit of a bind if you don't happen to be fanatical about football). If you are a fan you can read up more on Spanish football by clicking on the link below.

Spanish Football

Christmas

Spanish Christmas

Christmas Traditions