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I am a big fan of soccer/football as I grew up playing it my whole life. It is so intriguing to me as it is much more of a lifestyle in Spain then it is here in the states. The game represents not only your team but your area where your family has ancestral ties to and where the cultural aspects of this lifestyle are not to be take lightly. The two biggest teams in their match versus each other in the season might be coming to th US as well!

https://www.firstpost.com/sports/la-liga-barcelona-host-real-madrid-first-el-clasico-fixture-spanish-football-officials-unveil-2018-19-calendar-4810491.html

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There have been many misconceptions regarding the Flamenco and most people thinking it is just a seductive dance, while it is, the Spaniards had celebrated it with more of an artistic festival. It unfortunately fell out of favor as many of the youth believe it is too closely associated with the old times and dictatorships. While this is partially true, there has been a call for it to return and bring the celebration and the festivals with it, for more people to enjoy and enjoy.

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Flamenco dancers are like a big nomadic tribe, travelling from festival to festival, gig to gig. These days, a lot of their reunions happen abroad; the passion for flamenco has dimmed somewhat in Spain in recent decades, though it may be gearing up for a resurgence. There are many reasons for this: a struggling economy, reduced government subsidies, the crushing weight of American pop culture. And a kind of image problem: "Young people associate flamenco with the old days, with the dictatorship and a certain kind of politics," the dancer and choreographer Olga Pericet said, as she prepared for the opening night of the Flamenco Festival at City Center.

Pericet, a tiny powerhouse with a doll-like face that she uses to great effect in her performances, is part of flamenco's younger generation. She has embraced what she calls flamenco's "anarchic" side to create her own highly personal style. Her evenings are a cross between dance theatre, intimate musical dialogue, and self-portrait. Pericet has also revived aspects of Spanish dance (or escuela bolera) that had fallen out of fashion: the expert handling of the mantón, or embroidered shawl, and the castanets. She combines these with a balletic precision and control that to some might seem the opposite of the improvisational quality often associated with flamenco.

Warming up before the opening-night "Gala Flamenca"-a showcase for four dancers and seven musicians and vocalists-the performers milled about the stage, erupting into cascades of percussive footwork in order to test the acoustics of the theatre. (City Center's neo-Moorish interior seems like an apt setting for an art form born in southern Spain.) Guitarists crouched over their instruments, lost in private musical peregrinations. A young vocalist wearing sunglasses and tight black jeans tested his voice, coughed, and tried again. The young dancer Jesús Carmona, capable of careening across the stage on legs that seem to shoot in all directions at once, sat in the darkened theatre, answering messages on his iPhone.

" Estás ahí, Jesús?" a tall, statuesque dancer called out after completing a powerful riff of zapateado, or footwork. This was Juana Amaya, who was, at almost fifty, the senior dancer of the cast. She is a dancer with sterling flamenco credentials-a real gitana, a gypsy, from a long line of performers. She also has some of the strongest feet and legs in the biz. When she dances, she raises her voluminous skirts up to her thighs unceremoniously, then delivers volley upon volley of stomps, kicks, slices, slashes. Her hair flies; wisps cling to her lips, her eyes. Even in rehearsal, she's riveting, jogging around the space with more vitality than most people half her age. "How does it sound from there, Jesús?" she asks the younger dancer, who is still on his phone.

He looks up for a moment: " Eres una bomba " ("You're a bomb"), which just about says it all. "I'm the super grandma," she responds from the stage, with a huge grin.

Once he gets started, though, Carmona is no slouch either. With his dark curls, ballet-trained physique, and theatrical flair, he seems to channel some of the charisma of the flamenco legend José Greco, star of the stage and screen. In a form that has long embraced life's tragic aspects-the flamenco scowl is nearly ubiquitous-Carmona is bringing back playful sex appeal, and a bit of flash. At one point during the evening's show, he comes onstage in a flat Cordobés hat, tilted just so, and skin-tight black trousers, arching his back like a bullfighter. He creates beautiful lines in space, but when he lets go his feet seem to have a life of their own. "This is what I'm like," he says when asked if he is consciously trying to bring back an earlier, more joyful kind of dance. "My dancing reflects who I am."

What comes across in this current Flamenco Festival is the energy that emerges from the dialogue between generations and styles. The youngest dancer in the show, Patricia Guerrero, is twenty-six, another tall dancer with strong legs and a powerful sense of theatricality. The oldest member of the cast, the cantaora Herminia Borja, has a voice that could wake the dead; she's the singer Amaya turns to when she needs a final injection of energy to push her over the edge. The two women face off like titans, and Amaya launches into a blast of footwork that propels her to the front of the stage. " Guapa!" someone calls out from the audience. " Gracias! " Amaya responds, with a smile, and keeps going. It's this kind of interplay that makes flamenco feel so alive.

Borja's antithesis is a younger singer, Rocío Márquez, whose voice has a gentle, almost tremulous quality. If Borja is thunder, Márquez is a brook. Her shining moment comes early in the show, when she sings Pepe Marchena's ballad "Romance a Córdoba," a song in praise of the a beauty of a woman from the city of Córdoba, one of the cradles of Flamenco: " Hablé con ella, fue mía, puse en ella mi alegría, mis afanes y mis penas, y hoy por su gusto daría más sangre que hay en mis venas." ("I spoke to her, she was mine, I gave her my joy, my worries and my sadness, and for her I would give more blood than that which courses through my veins.") She delivers the song in a kind of half-whisper. The theatre goes quiet.

As in any large family, old and new coexist, learning from each other, looking to the past, building on the present. The flamenco tent is wide. Before the show, Pericet tells me, "Sometimes I'll go to a tablao [a café with dancing] and sit down with my little glass of wine to watch real rough-edged gitana, or a Castilian doing a guajira. And I just die."

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Flamenco dancers are like a big nomadic tribe, travelling from festival to festival, gig to gig. These days, a lot of their reunions happen abroad; the passion for flamenco has dimmed somewhat in Spain in recent decades, though it may be gearing up for a resurgence.

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I chose this article for the reason of it being a tradition that my parents have done while I was growing up. It is about the Three Kings who came to see Jesus when he was born and known to be the son of God. The Reyes Magos tradition is a reenactment of the journey these three kings made coming into town to bear gifts. In the Spanish tradition, the Reyes Magos, is celebrated on the night of January 5th and the morning of the 6th. It can be related to how those in the U.S. have Santa Claus for Christmas. In the evening children leave out their shoes where the Kings would be able to see them. As a gift for the Reyes Magos, the children leave out sweets for them and some hay for their camels before going to bed. Then when the morning comes, the children are surprised to find that the sweets and hay have been eaten while also finding wrapped gifts next to the shoes left out the night before. It’s great that my parents were able to bring and keep this tradition going on in my household.

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Reyes Magos - Día de los Reyes Magos - Spanish Culture

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Día de los Reyes Magos - the Day of Three Kings in Spain, January 6th

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The Enfarinats Festival/The Battle of Enfarinats

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The Enfarinats Festival/The Battle of Enfarinats

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My original reason for choosing this article is because when I visited Barcelona around 2003, there just so happened to be a strike on one of the days we were there. It was much more traumatic than I thought it would be and I wanted to compare their strike culture to ours in the US. However, I came across the Battle of Enfarinats because I believe eggs and flour were used within the Enfarinats Festival in the town of Ibi, Spain. The battle became a town tradition that happens annually. I hope to find more about the Spanish culture and it's traditions through this class.
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2015/12/the-battle-of-enfarinats/422040/

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I chose an article talking about the history of Quinceanera's. A Quinceanera is a defined as a young girl, age 15, being introduced to society. A lot of my friends back home had Quinceanera's growing up and I've always wondered what the story was behind the celebration. It was very interesting to read and probably one of my favorite Spanish traditions to talk about.

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How much do you know about the lovely tradition of a 15-year-old Latin American girl's transition into womanhood known as the Quinceanera? Even if you know a good deal, it's always fun to see what's new. So we've put together a little history on how the Quinceanera-also know as La Fiesta Quinceanera- came to be, how time has left its mark, and where the Quinceanera is today.

Historians believe that the Quinceanera began with the Aztecs. Men trained their sons for battle while mothers prepared their daughters for motherhood. To celebrate the transition from little girls to the next generation of mothers-to-be who would then bring new sons into the tribe, they'd make a grand event of the girls' 15 th birthdays. During those times, 15 was seen as an age fit for motherhood because it's not unusual for mid-teen girls to have completed puberty by that time.

The original tradition includes symbols-some still incorporated today-that represent the girl's entrance to womanhood. The ultima muñeca -The Last Doll-represents her childhood days. It was presented to her by her chambelan de honor (her male escort who is usually her same age), and as she took her first dance, she carried the doll in her arms. Soon after, she passed the doll to her younger sister or cousin as a sign that she no longer needed dolls and other toys.

Just as in the past, today's Quinceanera traditionally consists of two parts: the Mass and the fiesta or reception. Each segment is rich with representations of the transition from childhood to womanhood. The splendor of each girl's 15 th birthday celebration is different across the social classes, but what common among all is the celebration of the Mass. This signifies the girl's affirmation of service to God as a "daughter of the king." And to show her new position as "royalty," she wears a beautiful dress or ball gown.

For the grandest Quince celebrations, the celebrant has a royal court with 14 young girls-called and 14 boys- chambelanes- who are paired and dance during the fiesta. During the Mass, members of this Corte de Honor carry and/or present the other symbols of a traditional Quinceanera. One will carry the pillow with the celebrant's first pair of high heels while a is in charge of carrying a pillow-sometimes heart-shaped-with a crown or tiara. These symbols represent a crossing over into womanhood as the celebrant can now wear high heels and jewelry. The tiara reinforces the princess of God concept.

One of the most symbolic acts of the Quinceanera is the celebrant changing into high heels. During the Mass, she usually wears flats, representing that she is still a child. She then changes into high heels when it's time for the fiesta, and her father usually assists. After switching into heels, she dances briefly with her mother who then escorts her to a throne and places a tiara on her daughter's head. Her father then escorts her to the dance floor for their father-daughter dance.

The Quinceanera fiesta has almost always been a large party because, as the parents share these milestones with their daughter, they want the entire community to join in and witness their daughter's transformation. In ancient times, there was a difference in the way a girl was treated by the community before and after her Quinceanera. Nowadays, many celebrants just want to have a fancy 15 th birthday celebration where they can invite their friends and family to enjoy a party and a delicious feast.

The cost of a Quinceanera with all the trimmings runs anywhere from $5,000 to $8,000. However, for a truly extravagant party, these days it could easily run as high as $15,000. In addition, since modern celebrations have incorporated new changes, there are many ways to make a Quinceanera extraordinary.

Celebrants can now select from different themes for their 15 th birthday celebration, and more activities have been added. Sometimes the traditional Corte de honor activities are replaced with photo booths, professional performances, games, and other fun things that all the guests can participate in.

The traditional symbol of the Last Doll-once handmade of fine fabrics and ceramic or porcelain-is now often a lovely store-bought doll. There are myriad ways to be creative with this option, including having the celebrant's mother make a dress for the girl's last doll!

Here are some ideas to celebrate your Quinceanera a little differently and so set it apart even more from the classic formal celebration:

A brunch Quinceanera makes for a beautiful beginning to the day, particularly an outdoor celebration during springtime. Imagine serving the tasty-and cost-effective!-breakfast foods that people love best along with coffee and hot chocolate. A brunch option can be affordable that you could have a truly indulgent feast.

The theme for a brunch Quince would also be a bit more casual, so if you don't relish the idea of formal attire, a morning Mass and fiesta may be an excellent option for you. Your guests, too, can dress less formally. The only downside may be waking up early, but if everyone knows the food will be amazing and the party a lot of fun, don't worry about your guests' willingness to make the effort to be with you. Besides, with a morning Quinceanera, you'll be giving them the rest of the day off!

Do you ever imagine dressing up as your favorite movie character and having some of the same cool stuff that was in the film? You can also pattern your Quince after a popular TV series like Game of Thrones, or even your favorite cartoon, comic book character, or book.

Some girls, no matter their age, just don't relish the thought of being the center of attention. If that's your style, you don't need to force yourself to take center stage just because it's your pivotal 15 th birthday. You can celebrate your Quinceanera by doing charity work with an organization supporting children's welfare or perhaps an orphanage for girls. You can also still have the "grand celebration" that your parents might want by sponsoring a lovely party for the kids you're working with. That makes the spotlight instead of you. And what parent wouldn't be more than proud of a daughter with a heart for giving?

Rather than spending thousands of dollars locally on a large celebration, why not take your family and closest friends on a road trip or a mini-vacation? You could even go somewhere in South America to explore the country of your ancestors! This is an excellent way to honor and connect with your roots. It's also a unique way to celebrate your 15 th birthday.

You may have other friends or cousins who will be celebrating their Quinceanera close to yours, so why not have a joint party? Your families can split the expenses for the venue and food, and more people can attend and make the event even grander. This is ideal for those with tightly knit families or perhaps childhood friends whose mothers took the same pregnancy exercise classes! It's a truly easy, special affordable way to have a grand celebration. Not to mention your moms will be thrilled to have their daughters celebrate their Quinceaneras together!

: Some women celebrate a "Double Quinceanera" on their 30 th birthday! This is a great idea if you have a really modest celebration the first time around. Check out Pinterest for some cool ideas that would actually work well for a regular Quinceanera! https://www.pinterest.com/pin/87890630206836060/

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The History of the Quinceanera: Celebrations Old & New

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How much do you know about the lovely tradition of a 15-year-old Latin American girl's transition into womanhood known as the Quinceanera? Even if you know a good deal, it's always fun to see what's new.

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When I think of sports in Spain I instantly think of soccer. I was curious what other sports were popular in the country. I found this link that gives a run down of all the popular sports/activities within Spain. The ones that were left off of the list were the two I expected wouldn't be on there. Interesting article to learn about some of the sports culture in Spain.

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Sports are very popular in Spain, just like in most European countries. Football has been the Spanish population's favourite sport for years, but many other sports - such as tennis, basketball, biking, golf and swimming - are also very widespread. If you intend to settle there, you can not only attend sports competitions but also practice your favourite sports. Spain has a developed sports infrastructure consisting of modern stadiums, gyms, swimming pools, golf courses and basketball courts, etc. Moreover, all matches and competitions are broadcast on TV.

Spain regularly takes part in major world sports events such as the FIFA World Cup, the summer Olympics, the Davis Cup, and many others. Hence, Spain is known aS one of the world's biggest sporting nations.

Football

Football is almost a lifestyle in Spain. Spanish are very enthusiastic about football, whether at the stadium or watching on TV. Victory is often celebrated with huge parades and a drink. The Spanish Liga is known to be one of the world's best football leagues, consisting of two divisions: the Primera and Segunda involving fifty professional teams. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, Deportivo de la Coruna and Valencia CF are the most popular Spanish football teams.

Spanish football teams also take part in the Copa de Rey, the UEFA Cup (which involves the best European teams), as well as the FIFA World Cup.

Basketball

Basketball Has proven to be as popular as football in Spain recently. In fact, the Asociación de Clubs de Baloncesto hosts the country's most prestigious basketball teams with the best players. The association is managed by the International Basketball Federation and has some twenty professional teams which compete in the Basketball League, Copa del Rey de Baloncesto, and in the FIBA World Championship which is held every four years.

Tennis

Spain also has excellent professional tennis players, including the famous Rafael Nadal, the second Spaniard to have won at Wimbledon. Tennis is especially present in the Spanish capital city, due to the country's most important tennis tournament; the Madrid Masters.

Furthermore, paddle, pelota vasca, squash and table tennis are also quite widespread.

Golf

Spain also has an ideal climate for golf. You can find wide and lush green golf courses as well as sea-view golf courses in some regions, with modern infrastructure and equipment to accommodate the country's many golf professionals. You can register at a golf club if you are a keen golfer.

Sports for thrill-seekers

You can also enjoy various thrilling sports such as rafting, mountaineering, skiing, hang gliding, sledging, paragliding, karting, quad-biking, etc. You can practice water sports such as scuba diving, water skiing and jet skiing in the country's coastal regions.

Water sports

Spain is also the ideal place for water sports such as kitesurf, canoe-kayak, scuba diving, as well as surf and windsurfing. You will definitely not get bored thanks to its pleasant climate along with beautiful, breathtaking coastlines.

The Spanish tradition of bull-fighting

Once you have settled in Spain, you should definitely not miss the corrida which is a traditional and cultural Spanish sport, usually held from March to October, especially in Andalusia. The corrida implies a professional torero and a bull. A traditional corrida competition is divided into three parts whereby three toreros start fighting a bull at the sound of the trumpet. The competition ends when the torero kills the bull with a sword blow at a specific location. However, this tradition is increasingly being criticized by many advocates of animal protection.

Car racing

Car racing is one of the Spanish's most favourite sports, thanks to the Formula 1 race track in Barcelons. You can follow the Grand Premio de España in Catalonia, as well as the Formula 3 in Madrid and Valencia.

Useful links:

Sport Club 321 www.sportclub321.com
Go Tarifa www.gotarifa.com
Spain.info www.spain.info

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Sports are very popular in Spain, just like in most European countries. Football has been the Spanish population's favourite sport for years, but many other sports - such as tennis, basketball, biking, golf and swimming - are also very widespread. If you intend to settle there, you can not only attend sports competitions but also practice your favourite sports.

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I picked The Siesta culture in Spain. The Siesta means “nap” in English. Between 2 and 4 p.m. most businesses close for taking a nap. Because Spanish people are considered lunch is the biggest meal of the day, moreover, around 2 to 4 pm the temperatures are very high, they take a nap for avoiding high temperatures and flowing blood to their brain. However, these days Spaniards are not enjoying the Siesta anymore. They can use air conditioners, and many people are not able to take long breaks.

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The siesta is one of the most famous aspects of Spanish life -- that dead period in the late afternoon when everything shuts down in Spain, in theory, so people can rest and take a nap.

The Spanish take the siesta very seriously, even going so far as to have a sleeping competition in its honor. But, on a normal day, do the Spanish really go to sleep at this time?

When Is the Siesta?

There are two periods of siesta in Spain -- siesta for shops and businesses, during which time many people go to a bar or restaurant, and then siesta for the restaurants, who obviously can't rest when everyone wants to come and eat.

The siesta for shops and businesses is from approximately 2 pm until 5 pm while bars and restaurants close from about 4 pm until about 8 or 9 pm. However, recent laws in Spain might change the length of the siesta.

Why Do the Spanish Stop for Siesta?

Much of Spanish culture is connected to the siesta. In some ways, there is a chicken-and-the-egg situation: some aspects of modern life in Spain are because of the siesta, but they may also contribute to why the idea of the siesta has not completely died.

Avoiding the Mid-Day Heat

Spain is a hot country, especially mid-afternoon, and the traditional reason for the siesta is for the workers in the fields to shelter from the heat. They would then feel refreshed after their sleep and would work until quite late in the evening, longer than they would have been able to without the siesta.

While people do still work in the fields in Spain, this reason doesn't account for why shops and businesses in big cities close down today.

Indeed, offices can get hot too, but the invention of air conditioning has helped in this department. So why do they still do it?

One reason for the siesta is that there was a law that limited shop trading times to 72 hours per week and eight Sundays a year. With these limits, it made sense for businesses to close when many people are hiding from the heat and stay open later.

This would, in turn, reinforce itself, as people would stay off the streets as all the shops were closed anyway.

Several years back, the law on Spanish business hours was relaxed -- currently, they are allowed to stay open for 90 hours a week and ten Sundays a year. Then, in 2016, the Prime Minister announced that official working hours were to end at 6 pm rather than 7 pm, spelling the end of the two-hour lunch break. And, as more and more people work in offices, most of which are now air-conditioned, this reason for the siesta doesn't hold as much weight.

Lunchtime, the Most Important Time of the Day

One big reason for the siesta is that the Spanish like to have a long lunch. At home, a mother will cook a huge lunch for the whole family (and yes, that does include for her grown son -- it is still customary to enjoy a home-cooked meal as an adult out of the nest). This meal could last up to two hours (longer if time allows), and alcohol is often included. A rest before going back to work is essential after that.

The Spanish Don't Sleep Enough

According to a Washington Post article, the Spanish sleep an hour less per night than the World Health Organization recommends, while another source claims the Spanish go to sleep later than any country in the world, after Japan).

So why is that?

The (quite interesting) reason is that Spain is in the wrong timezone. Spain shares the Iberian peninsula with Portugal, and, geographically speaking, is almost perfectly aligned with Britain, both of which operate on GMT, while Spain is on Central European Time, which extends as far east as Poland's border with Belarus and Ukraine.

The explanation supposedly is due to claims that Spain changed its timezone in World War II to follow Nazi Germany, but this is not strictly true. In fact, most of Europe went to Central European Time during World War II, to avoid confusion about when exactly attacks were going to take place. After the war, most countries reverted to their old timezone, but Spain did not. No one knows why, but it wasn't to align with Nazi Germany, as the Germans had been defeated.

In fact, Spain was allied with the UK and the US in the post-war years as the West tried to keep Spain from falling into the Soviet Union's sphere of influence.

Sleeping in the Afternoon Is Fun and Good for You

Another reason why the Spanish stop for siesta is not so much out of need but out of want -- the Spanish truly enjoy that traditional lunchtime break. It allows them to stay up later in the evening without fading (you'll rarely hear a Spaniard saying 'I think I'll have an early night tonight'). The late nightlife of Spain may have (partially) caused (or maintained) Spain's siesta culture, but it is the chance for a siesta which allows the late night partying lifestyle to continue -- and many Spaniards don't want that to change.

The sun stays out much later in Spain than in most other European countries, thus encouraging later eating and partying. Spanish nightlife is an all-night affair -- visitors to Spain are surprised to see the streets just starting to fill up at midnight and are even more surprised to see people in their 60s and 70s still out at 3 am. They wouldn't be able to do this without a siesta.

Also, a nap in the afternoon is good for you. The Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians says that a siesta reduces stress and improves memory, alertness, and cardiovascular performance. It's said that siestas should last around 25 minutes to have the optimal benefit.

The End of the Siesta?

In truth, the siesta has been dying for a while now. A higher pressure modern job market means that many people are unwilling or unable to take long breaks and air conditioning has helped them to work through the hottest part of the day.

The gradual disappearance of the siesta has not changed the late-night lifestyle, which means the Spanish sleep an average of one hour less per day than other European countries.

Even before the recent law changes and economic pressures of the past few years, the siesta would hit Madrid and Barcelona much less than in Granada or Salamanca. Big supermarkets and department stores in much of the country stay open during the siesta. In winter, when the heat isn't stifling, this can be a good time to go shopping as many Spaniards will stay away during this time. Overall, many stores will be closed and you may struggle to get everything done.

So, Do the Spanish Actually Sleep During the Siesta?

Today's hectic lifestyle will often not allow people the time to sleep, but many still do their best to fit a little nap in when they can. However, the typical Spanish office is not equipped with a bed for an executive to catch forty winks -- though it certainly would be welcomed!

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When In Spain, Should You Siesta as the Spanish Do?

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The siesta is one of the most famous aspects of Spanish life -- that dead period in the late afternoon when everything shuts down in Spain, in theory, so people can rest and take a nap. The Spanish take the siesta very seriously, even going so far as to have a sleeping competition in its honor.

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I had chosen to look at the customs on tipping in Spain. I wanted to look at the basics of their etiquette as mannerism is important to my culture. I find that in Spain is different on tipping in contrast to America. In Spain, it's not "expected" to tip and it's more of tourists tipping instead of locals. It's uncommon in Spain because waiters and waitresses are usually full-time employees and are paid a salary for their work. Though if locals do tip, it usually is a small change. From the link, it displayed examples for tipping for different situations in Spain.
http://www.totallyspaintravel.com/2014/04/28/tipping-in-spain/

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Eating customs in Spain are much different than customs here. A typical breakfast is very small, usually just coffee and some pastry; often times breakfast is skipped all together. Lunch is the biggest and main meal of the day, as it is usually is served in several courses. It begins with soup or salad, then the main course, and finished with dessert and either coffee or wine. After this, la siesta takes place, which is the famous rest/nap many of us have heard of. Dinner is a much smaller meal, usually something like just a sandwich or tapas. I have always found food to be one of the most interesting things about culture which is why I wanted to read more about eating customs!

https://www.enforex.com/culture/spanish-eating-customs.html

https://www.donquijote.org/spanish-culture/traditions/cuisine-food-culture/

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Hello! This is an article about an annual wine battle held in Spain’s Rioja producing-region. La Batalla de Vino supposedly attracts crowds in the thousands - many being tourists. Last year during La Batalla de Vino, over 12,000 participants used water guns, pesticide sprayers, and buckets to drench one another in wine until no white clothing was showing (per tradition). I chose this article because the event looks fun and I’m interested in learning more about the historical  territorial battle that took place and is linked to this tradition.

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THANK God it's Friday!

Revellers in Spain celebrated their country's famous export, red wine from the Rioja region, by soaking each other with buckets of wine and toy spray guns filled with wine, not water, until their clothes were turned a shade of purple.

This bacchanal in northern Spain is part of an annual wine battle in the country's Rioja producing-region.

La Batalla de Vino is held each June in the town of Hero on the feast of St Peter, an event organisers say draws thousands of people.

This year's Battle of Wine saw more than 12,000 participants climb the Riscos de Bilibio before using water pistols, pesticide sprayers, bottles and even buckets to douse each other in 70,000 litres of wine while the local band played.

"The historical origin of this war is linked to a territorial dispute between the townsfolk of Hero and Miranda de Ebro over the ownership of the cliffs of Bilibio," the Hero city hall website said.

"This was the spot on which a medieval castle stood upon a pre-Roman bulwark.

This was the place where the Reconquest of Spain from Islamic occupation began."

Haro said at least 500 of those in attendance were foreign tourists who flocked from as far away as Australia to take part in the sticky war and have their pristine white clothes dyed a rich purple.

Tradition dictates that the Bacchanalian battle must continue until not a single drop of wine remains and anyone still sporting even the smallest accidental smidgen of white must be showered until their clothes match those around them.

Many people will then make their way to Pamplona for the Sanfermines running of the bulls fiesta, one of the most iconic events in the Spanish calendar.

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THANK God it's Friday! Revellers in Spain celebrated their country's famous export, red wine from the Rioja region, by soaking each other with buckets of wine and toy spray guns filled with wine, not water, until their clothes were turned a shade of purple.

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Paella is a rice dish originating from the city of Valencia. Most people think of Paella as consisting of rice and seafood, but in different regions of Spain other topping such as duck, chicken, and rabbit are also used. Most chefs use a type of rice called Bombs to cook Paella, but Valencian's use a type of rice called Senia. Although most non-spanish people think of Paella as a Spanish dish, it is actually regarded as a Valencian dish by the Spanish.

https://www.saveur.com/article/Kitchen/The-Art-of-Paella

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La Siesta is one of the known traditions of Spanish culture. This is an old tradition to balance work with pleasure. Spaniards long have practiced the tradition of siesta. People return to their homes around 2 afternoons for a few hours of rest along with a big lunch. Also, businesses shut down for few hours. In recent years, Spain gradually has moved away from this tradition. People who live in big cities lost this tradition. but, many people in smaller towns still take a siesta each day. I heard a lot about this culture, so I wanted to know more about it.
https://msu.edu/~williss2/carpentier/part2/siesta.html

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I used Google to find my page and I wanted something a little off the beaten track. This page has daily cultural bits about names, daily activities, social interactions and holidays that I found quite interesting. I hope you all enjoy them as well.

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Q. What Spanish customs might seem strange to Americans?

(1) I lived a number of years in Spain, in three starkly different provincial heritages.

Mediterranean Spain in the shadow of NE Pyrenees

Austere Meseta Spain, a 600m (2,000 ft) tabletop that occupies 2/5 of the Iberian peninsula.

(2) Here they are.

(2a) Names

Illustratively, say, you're American, and your name is John James Smith.

John: Your first name, your Christian name.

James: Your surname

Smith: Your mom's surname

When Eva Pena marries Juan Garcia, she does not change her name. She is now Senora Eva Pena de ( day) Garcia.

The first name is considered the most important. John Smith would be listed under 'J', not 'S'. Middle names don't exist where a person may have one or many first names, but only two last names.

If dad's first name is Juan, and he wants to name his son 'Juan' too, it'll be suffixed with ' ito ' (little one), Juanito.

If mom's first name is Eva, and she wants to name her daughter 'Eva ' too, it'll be suffixed with ' ita ', Evita.

(2b) Origin of Species

What are you?

An American would introduce himself loud-&-proud, proclaiming that he is American, as if it means anything. And if probed lightly, he'll volunteer Miami (if a major city that people are likely to be familiar with), and then, Florida.

A Spaniard will likely introduce himself as, say, Catalan, or from Barcelona. And then, if cross-examined further under inquisitional distress, he'll let on and mutter 'Spain'.

There is strong provincial heritage pride. They know who they are.

(2c) Birthdays

Birthday person is expected to invite his/her friends, coworkers or classmates out for a drink or meal, to celebrate his/her birthday. It needn't be more than a get- togetherover a cuppa or drink. The birthday person is expected to initiate, to host.

(2d) Saints' Days

Religion in Spain is more than just a Sunday do. It's more holistic. Each Spaniard is buddied up with a saint, and each saint has a Saint's Day. Name day.

Saint's Days are just as important, if not more important, than birthdays.

Call up your Spanish BBF on his specific Saint's Day, and it will be greatly appreciated. Because it's so much more difficult to remember.

(2e) Streetwalking

It's not what your filthy mind is thinking. This is a wholesome Spanish private enterprise, notwithstanding done in fading light.

The paseo, the evening stroll, is a big deal in the Spanish daily cultural calendar. Chime 7pm and you'll see many well-dressed freshened Spaniards, emerging from nowhere, cruising the Plaza Mayor, the ramblas, working up their appetite for their 9pm dinner.

(2f) Sneezing

Not gesundheit.

Not ' bless you '.

But, ' Jesus '.

(2g) Socializing

If the home is an Englishman's castle, a Spanish person's home is his impregnable triple-firewalled fortress.

Spanish people are intensely private. Neighborly socializing is done in the street. You'll see knots of neighbors socializing on the street outside their homes, but never inside.

Socializing, entertaining are almost always in their fav F&B outlets.

If you're ever invited to a Spanish home, you're in the zone.

(2h) Church Services

The choirs and guitar accompaniment, and the singing is just awesomely superb. I know of many atheist paramilitants who endure lengthy sermons in Spanish which they don't comprende, just to experience the liftingtranscending power of the musical experience, in palpable Spanish lyrics that they don't understand. But feel.

(2i) Raining buckets, but of what?

The rain in Spain falls mainly...

One otherwise fine day, you're caught in a routine rain shower.

Your car is covered in an artful abstraction of muddy splashes with nuanced pink overtones. But, you didn't drive through any muddy pools??

And when you returned to your humble newly painted brilliantly whitewashed villa abode, it's a charming shade of muddy pink.

Wtf!? Is this a huge conspiratorial sick joke?

Don't fret. This sick joke has a name... Sahara Rain. ( Was Your Car Covered In Dust This Morning? Here's Why) Rainfall contains a judicious portion of Sahara sand, which being fashionably pastel pink, stains everything it lands on.

What to do? High-pressure jet hose will just do it.

This visits you once or twice a year.

(2j) Self-medication

Spaniards swear by these cure-all prescriptions. Panaceas to all of society's ills.

Hot milk laced with brandy and honey

Warm lemon juice with honey

Don't overdose on the first.

Most of all, warm up to these.

Wear your slippers.

Don't stay in a draught.

Keep your kidneys warm. But, not so warm that they're cooked.

(2k) Zebra Crossing

As the name obliquely suggests, it's only for zebras. If you're not one, approach these with extreme caution.

(2l) Bureaucracy

Let's put it this way.

If you're North American, Northern European, Japanese, Singaporean, you will discuss Spanish bureaucracy animatedly. You will moan, marvel, and be outraged.

If you're Mexican or Latin American, you'll say efficient, honest and friendly.

Can't please all the people all the time.

But, it works for the Spanish people, and that is all that matters. A lot of work goes into looking effortless. And that golden mean will work for you too, if you would let it, when you go to the government offices to get permits and licenses done. Chill.

(2m) Working Hours

Normal hours: 9am, to 1pm or 2pm.

Lunch: 2pm - 5pm

Then 5pm to 7:30pm or 8pm

I used to have a local Spanish secretary. She reported to work promptly each morning at 8am. Cool! Sometime in the morning, she disappeared for 0.5 hr, then resumed working without offering any excuse for being away. Puzzled, I asked wassup? She looked surprised. "That's my breakfast break!". This is common practice for office workers, as well as laborers and technicians. As it will be for you.

There's no concept of restricted, hand-timed formal coffee breaks.

Should you run out of office 2 to 3 times a day to meet business associates over a cuppa, that's deemed normal office hours work. Nothing unusual. Rat race. Somebody's gotta to run it. Better you.

Don't fight these timing regimes. Enjoy them.

(2n) Kids' Bedtime

There's none.

School-going kids are often out with their friends till 9 or 10pm during term-time. 11pm or midnight in summer.

(2o) Time

While on a sojourn travelling through Spain, Einstein was inspired to discover that time slows down.

(2p) Alcohol

Spaniards are comparatively heavy drinkers.

They're likely to start the day with a Carajillo , black coffee laced with a large dose of brandy, for breakfast. Just so you duly know, Carajillo is from the Spanish word "coraje" - courage. To face a new dawn.

Polish off a bottle of wine paired with a Bocadillo, a sandwich, at lunch.

You see them sit in bars drinking all evening.

But, you will not see a drunken Spaniard. And just so you know, Spaniards have the longest lifespan in the EU. Men: 76.2 years. Women: 83.1 years. The glorious trinity of climate, food and lifestyle in pointed triangulation. Europeans have a different drinking culture to other tippling cultural traditions such as the Anglos.

Prices of local wines, liquers, brandies are extremely cheap. When you order a whisky, gin or rum-based drink, the price may seem comparatively steep, but chill, you'll get far more of the poison per foot run than you may be used to.

(2q) Cafe Americano

No brainer, right?

Wrong!

This exotic drink is not a special brew from America! It's a native Spanish cafe solo, a strong coffee in a small cup, diluted with water, upsized in a big cup, to suit the American fine palate. A gross cultural appropriation that the Spanish people are blissfully magnanimous about. The antithesis to all that is European.

When ordering, you must preface the order with ' cafe', or you'll get a quizzical wtf look from the waiter. That's how exclusive it is.

(3) My other long-haul Spanish experience...

Sam Qwato's answer to What should I expect about walking the Camino de Santiago as a Buddhist?

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What Spanish customs might seem strange to Americans?

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Answer (1 of 3): Q. What Spanish customs might seem strange to Americans? (1) I lived a number of years in Spain, in three starkly different provincial heritages. * Far north Ireland-like Green Spain * Mediterranean Spain in the shadow of NE Pyrenees * Austere Meseta Spain, a 600m (2,000 ft)...

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Discussion Post Week 2 - Running of the Bulls 

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Discussion Post Week 2 - Running of the Bulls 

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With 4th of July approaching I thought it would be appropriate to share a Spanish tradition of the Running of the Bulls. As this celebration in the 13th century was held in October they moved in to be help on July 7th for reasons to do with the weather. There are 8 bull runs that are held in Pamplona during the festival one every day at 8am. This festival it to honor San Fermin, patron saint of Navarra however throughout the last several years the religious aspects of this festival have taken a back seat and now it is more focused on the run itself as well as the celebrations and the people that come from all over to see it.

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Is visiting Spain's Running of the Bulls on your Bucket List? Get the best bull run Pamplona experience and enjoy the vacation of a lifetime with us! Navigating Pamplona during the San Fermin Festival can be a daunting task on your own. We can help you get the most value for your money, and avoid the hassle and headache of finding bullfight tickets, prime balcony rentals, and the area's best tours.

Get the most out of your San Fermin travels with affordable Pamplona packages that leave nothing to be desired. Take advantage of our value pricing on travel accommodations, bullfight tickets, balcony spaces, and so much more!

San Fermin Festival in Pamplona

The bull runs in Pamplona are famous worldwide for good reason. These nail-biting "encierros" are the cornerstone event of the San Fermin Festival, which is staged every year from July 6-14 . More than 1 million spectators gather around the streets of Santo Domingo, Mercaderes, and Estafeta to witness the excitement and volatility that characterizes the running of the bulls.

Every morning adrenaline-junkies line the bull run route, ready to sprint alongside and, occasionally in front of, enormous bulls weighing upwards of 1300 pounds. The festival promises 9 days of unbridled partying and plenty of family-friendly activities in Pamplona's Old Town, known as "Casco Viejo." Visitors from all over the globe are invited to delve into Pamplona's rich culture, sample Navarra's delectable cuisine, and experience one of Spain's most iconic festivals.

The Best Deal on Pamplona Packages

Traveling to Pamplona for the Running of the Bulls can be overwhelming. All resources are extremely limited, which can seriously tarnish your vacation experience. Our main goal is to provide guests with a flawless yet affordable trip that exceeds their expectations. We accomplish that by offering all-inclusive Pamplona bull run packages. One purchase and you're all set. No more stress or worries, or last-minute bookings for balconies or bullfight tickets -- we made it that easy.

The San Fermin Festival features around 400 events throughout the city, including parades, competitions, live music performances, firework displays, cultural events, and kid-friendly activities. The official Pamplona bull run 2020 schedule is up! Check out the Running of the Bulls dates and start planning the adventure of your life.

Navarre's historic capital is the perfect backdrop for the Pamplona bull run - an exhilarating event that starts on July 7 and is repeated every day of the festival. At precisely 8 AM, six fighting bulls - bred for strength, size, and nobility -- are released onto the street, accompanied by six oxen that help herd the beasts and keep them on course.In terms of popularity and numbers of spectators, only La Tomatina (tomato fight) in Bunol, Valencia, rivals the running of the bulls.

The bull runs are the heart of Sanfermines and make the fiesta a world-renowned spectacle. The bull run's origin stems from practical need: they had to find a way to get the bulls from the countryside outside the city into the bullring. The encierro starts on Calle Santo Domingo corral when the church of San Cernin clock strikes eight. After two rockets are fired, the runners flee for 875 meters (the distance from the corral to the bullfighting stadium) with bulls charging right on their heels.

The run usually lasts less than four minutes, but you never know. If a bull goes rogue and breaks from the herd, the run can last much longer, and result in more injuries.

San Fermin Tour Packages

During the San Fermin Festival, the city of Pamplona swells to capacity, as more than one million visitors arrive for 9 days of non-stop crazy fun. Needless to say, finding a place to sleep, transportation, bullfight tickets, and balconies becomes a challenge if you don't book in advance. Our Pamplona tour packages are the easiest and most cost-effective way to ensure a stress-free holiday.

Unless you're planning to run, it's crucial to secure a Pamplona balcony to see every thrilling second of the encierro. Getting decent views of the bull run from street level is close to impossible, and balcony rentals are the safest and most comfortable perch from which to take in the spectacle.

The tradition of bullfighting in Spain is centuries old, and another highlight of the San Fermin fiesta. Tourists and locals fill up the grandiose Plaza de Toros to witness some of the most talented matadors encounter Spain's largest bulls that were run earlier that day. Tickets to Pamplona bullfights are in short supply, as local residents hold 90 percent of all seats.

About the Encierro: The Running of the Bulls
The encierro is an indescribable experience for runners and spectators alike. Barriers and fences are placed to corral the bulls along the city center streets to the bullring, where they will later face their demise. Since 1910, 16 people have died while participating in the bull runs, the majority from being gored.

A first-time runner should not downplay the dangers and should learn all of the protective strategies needed to stay safe and unharmed throughout. Not everyone is a good candidate to run the encierro. It requires steady nerves, sharp reflexes, and a high physical fitness level. Anyone who does not have these three should not take part as it is a highly risky enterprise.

You must be 18 or older to participate in the bull run. The following actions are prohibited:

Crossing police barriers in place along the bull run route

Standing in areas along the course that have been prohibited by the local police force.

Participating in the bull run while intoxicated, while under the influence of drugs, or in any other way that is deemed to be improper.

Carrying any objects that may interfere with the event

Wearing inappropriate footwear or clothes

Provoking the bulls or intentionally drawing their attention at any point along the run route

Running backwards or running behind the bulls

Harassing the bulls, holding them, or barring them from running or completing the course

Jeopardizing other runners by ceasing to run, standing on or by the fence, or stopping in doorways or by barriers.

Taking videos or photos during the run without prior official permission

Consider us your source for the best Pamplona Running of the Bulls vacation packages, including stellar accommodations, bull run balcony tickets, bullfight seats, and so much more. Contact us today to book your unforgettable San Fermin Festival trip.

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We're proud to be one of the top-rated Pamplona tour operators and would love to help you get the most out of your Pamplona trip. We're the experts in travel, accommodations, bullfight tickets, balcony rentals, dining reservations, Pamplona tours, and packages.

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Día de los Muertos-This is a day that I have always been fascinated by. The meaning and stories behind the day are so interesting to me. I chose this Spanish custom because of the entire day and all of the events that go into Día de los Muertos. I hope to one day be Mexico on this day to be able to celebrate the Day of the Dead. The story behind the day is something that will always stick with me and I look forward to learning more interesting things about the Spanish culture.
https://mexicansugarskull.com/support/dodhistory.html