National traditions of Spain. Habits, mentality and the way of living

Spain is home to bullfighting and siesta, which very vividly characterize the mentality of the inhabitants of this country. Passionate and emotional Spaniards are never in a hurry; they are always relaxed and try to enjoy every moment of life. People are very expressive and noisy. They communicate with each other in a high voice, always express their emotions in a bright and open manner. A traveler may think that in Spain all people are familiar. Random companions in the subway or neighbors in the park can communicate with each other as if they know each other for  ages. The Spaniards are very open and friendly; they smile and greet everyone they meet. Bright, stormy speech is complemented by active gesticulation.

Spaniards owe their mentality to the peculiarities of the location of the country. The hot Mediterranean climate does not contribute to a long working day. On the contrary, the working capacity is reduced as much as possible in the midday heat. Spain has the longest siesta in Europe. It starts at 1 pm and lasts until 5pm. At this time shops, cafes, restaurants, and businesses do not work. Such a long afternoon rest helps the nervous system  to relax. At this time, Spaniards traditionally sleep, communicate, and drink coffee. The unhurried rhythm of life in this country is almost a national treasure. The Spaniards are proud to know how to love and appreciate life and enjoy all its moments.

Spaniards are very friendly and sociable, they like to talk and start a dialogue practically at every opportunity. Spain can definitely be called a country of happy people. It’s uncommon to meet someone with a tired, sour face. Even waiters in restaurants enjoy their work. You can often meet a waiter dancing or singing while taking order. Travelers quickly dive into the general atmosphere of fun and relaxation. In Spain, the institution of the family is venerated. It is customary to live together with parents. The family actively participates in the life of relatives. Elderly people are not sent to rest homes; on the contrary, they are treated with the special honor and attention, taken care of and helped in everything. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Welcoming a friend, colleague, acquaintance or relative, the Spaniards kiss each other on the cheek twice. In this case, a woman can touch the neck of a man, embrace him, and these gestures will only say about showing a friendly warm relationship. Spaniards quite actively interact with each other during a conversation; they touch shoulders or hands. They can touch even strangers on the street, after having entered into dialogue with them. The word 'kiss' is also a form of farewell without any overtone, so friends or colleagues can say it or write to each other. Spaniards are open people without prejudices and complexes, and therefore they freely display any emotions.

Spaniards are very respectful to everyone around, including tourists. Local residents are in no hurry, they will gladly answer the questions of interest, show the way and even bear a company. Spaniards are unsurpassed masters of compliments. At the market, a girl can be called a princess or even a queen. However, locals appreciate and respect the personal space. No one pushes in the queue or bus, and everyone is extremely polite and relaxed. Unlike the inhabitants of northern European countries, the Spaniards are very non-punctual. They very rarely come to meetings on time, even if these are important business negotiations. They perform the work accurately, but often at the very last moment.

Spaniards don’t like to stay at home; they quickly become cramped and bored in a confined space. After a family dinner, if it takes place at home, they take to the streets to talk with neighbors or other relatives. This tradition is called paseo. That’s a special evening promenade. Locals can just walk around the city, look into the bar, and listen to the latest news. Communication is an important part of Spanish culture. Another national feature is the habit of putting everything off till tomorrow. Spaniards do not tolerate restrictions on their personal freedom, because that is the person who is in the first place in this country. All other cases can be postponed to the next day and done when the desire or time appears.