Spain has a population of over 46 million people and Spanish is the official language, though other languages like Catalan and Basque are also spoken in certain regions. Key aspects of Spanish culture include Catholicism, traditions like tapas and bullfighting, and a rich artistic heritage exemplified by landmarks like the Alhambra Palace and genres like flamenco music. Tourism is also a major part of Spain's economy, with the country receiving many visitors for its beaches, cities, and winter sports destinations.

1. A CULTURAL
UNDERSTANDING OF
SPAIN

2. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Spain is a sovereign state located in south-western Europe
with a population of over 46.23 million. 14.5% are 0-14 years,
68.1% are 15-64 years and 17.4% are 65 and over, whilst
immigrants account for 8.4% of the total population.
Roman Catholicism is the largest denomination of Christianity
present in Spain. 70.1% of Spaniards self-identify as Catholics,
2.7% other faith, and about 25% identify with no religion.

3. THE LANGUAGE
Castilian Spanish is the official language and
spoken throughout Spain, along with four other
languages spoken in their respective
autonomous regions – Catalan in Catalunya and
the Balearic Islands, Valencian in Valencia,
Galician in Galicia, and Basque in the Basque
country and Navarra.

4. HISTORIC EVENTS
• The history of Spain is fascinating and has helped
shape the modern world into what it is today. A
significant event that had a serious impact on
Spain was the Spanish Armada was the Spanish
fleet that sailed against England under the
command of the Duke of Medina Sidonia in 1588,
with the intention of overthrowing Elizabeth I of
England and putting an end to her involvement in
the Spanish Netherlands and in privateering in
the Atlantic and Pacific.

5. CELEBRATIONS
• The ‘Tomatina’ Tomato fight is a food-fight in which every year
around 30,00 people on take over the Spanish town of Bunol
(in the Valencia region of Spain) where they throw more than
240,000 pounds of tomatoes at each other.

6. THE SPANISH FLAG
This is the Spanish flag, also known as la
Rojigualda, has vibrant colours and vivid imagery
to make it stand out from the crowd. There is no
factual evidence, but some believe the colours
of the flag had to do with the red representing
the bloodshed from bullfighting and the yellow
the sand of the arena.

7. TRADITIONS
A big tradition of Spain is tapas, which is always a
necessity to try when you are visiting Spain. A 'tapa' is not
a type of food; it's a way of eating it. Tapas are small
portions, but they can be of anything. And to 'go for
tapas' (tapear in Spanish) does not mean ordering a lot of
dishes in one restaurant, but to bar-hop, eating a
different tapa in each bar.
Meal times in Spain are a lot different to the UK. In
Madrid, bars open at 7am, often earlier, for to
accommodate for the hectic lives of city businessmen.
Lunch is often eaten at around 2pm, but the Menu del
Dia starts at 1pm. As for dinner, no one goes out for a
meal in the evening before 9pm.

8. MORE TRADITIONS
Bull fighting in Spain, is one of the most controversial of
Spanish traditions and can be traced back to 711 A.D.
Tourists see this as a fascinating part of the culture, but
some do not agree it should be a public performance
any more.

9. FAMOUS PEOPLE
Enrique Iglesias (born
Enrique Miguel Iglesias
Preysler; May 8, 1975) is
a Spanish singer-
songwriter, model, actor,
and record producer and
originally came from
Madrid, Spain.

10. FAMOUS BUILDINGS
The Alhambra Palace, the
complete form of which was
Calat Alhambra, is a palace
and fortress complex located
in Granada, Andalusia, Spain.
It was originally constructed
as a fortress in 889, and was
converted into a royal palace
in 1333 by Yusuf I, Sultan of
Granada.

11. MUSIC
Flamenco is a genre of Spanish
music, song, and dance from
Andalusia, in southern Spain, that
includes cante (singing), toque
(guitar playing), baile (dance) and
palmas (handclaps). Whirls of
colourful ruffled dresses, waving
fans, long fringed shawls.
Explosions of clicking castanets,
strumming guitar, stamping feet.
The essence of flamenco. An art
form that passionately expresses
many of our everyday feelings—
happiness, loneliness, and anger.

12. TOURISM
Tourism in Spain was developed during the 1960s and 1970s, when the
country became a popular place for summer holidays, especially for tourists
from the British Isles, France, Central Europe and Scandinavia. In 2007, Spain
became the second most visited country of the world after France.
Spain is also popular in the winter,, as the second most mountainous country
of Europe, it’s full of high mountains and good ski resorts, with famous ski
slopes all over Spain, including the Pyrenees, the Sistema Central, the
Sistema Ibérico and Sierra Nevada.