Spain has several unique cultural traditions, including the tooth mouse Ratoncito Perez instead of the tooth fairy, and running through the streets in one's underwear on New Year's Eve in the village of La Font de Figuera. Spanish contributions to art are vast, from Picasso and Dali to the works of Leonardo Da Vinci. Paella originated from rice mixed with meats but now often features seafood, and is traditionally cooked outdoors in large quantities.

1. 10 FUN THINGS ABOUT... SPAIN

2. The tooth fairy is not recognized in Spain. Instead, they have a tooth mouse named Ratoncito Perez!

3. Some popular and well - known artists have come from Spain like Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali and Leonardo Da Vinci .

4. Spain has been the biggest don no r of organs in the world, for 15 consecutive years !!!

5. On the 6th January (Los Reyes Day), a special cake is made and sold all over Spain. Rosca de Reyes (pic below), is a ring-shaped pastry , covered in sugar and fruit flavoured jellies. B eware, the cake will contain plastic toys as presents. A nyone lucky enough to find one of the hidden toys will be blessed with good luck for the new year.

6. The Spanish hymn has 203 lyrics and lasts for 30 minutes.

7. Although the wearing of red underwear is traditional on New Year's Eve, the little Valencian village of La Font de Figuera have gone one step further. It is tradition here to run through the street in your red underwear.

8. Bullfighting has been associated to Spain in one form or another since ancient days. For example, a contest of the same sort is depicted in a wall painting somewhere in Crete, dating from about 2000 BC. It shows male and female acrobats confronting a bull, grabbing its horns as it charges, and vaulting over its back.

9. Tapas is not a type of food but a way of eating it. Tapa means cover and was traditionally a slice of cheese or ham placed over a drink.

10. Spain facts cannot exclude the Spanish people's love to sing and dance. The popular Flamenco comes from the south of Spain and includes el cante (the song), el baile (the dance), and el toque (the guitar playing).

11. One of the best known Spanish food is paella. The original paella consisted of rice mixed with beef , chicken, fish and pork, unlike the contemporary version with seafood. Paella is traditionally cooked outside in the open air in large quantities.

12. La Sagrada Família is Gaudi’s wish to make this church the "last great sanctuary of Christendom ". Its most striking aspect is its spindle-shaped spires. A total of eighteen high spires are called for, representing in ascending order of height the Twelve Apostles, the four Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and, tallest of all, Jesus Christ.

13. In Barcelona there is a statue portraying Christopher Columbus pointing to America. Funny thing is that America is on the opposite side to the place shown by Columbus. Columbus's index finger is 1 meter long.