Презентація

на тему:
“Spain culture”
Виконала:
студентка 3 курсу 3.3 групи
факультету філології
Остроушко Анастасія
 Spain
Spain is located on the southwestern shore of
Europe just north of Africa, and it is surrounded by
the Atlantic Ocean on the western side and the
Mediterranean on the southern side. France and
the Pyrenees mountains are northeast of Spain,
while Portugal takes up a portion of the western
edge of the country.
Spanish culture has contributed powerfully to the
evolution of the Spanish language. The customs
and identity of Spain stand out for several reasons.
Particularly, Spanish traditions are unique and have
influenced the culture of Latin American countries. 
Still, some Spanish traditions are only possible to
admire and experience if you take a trip to Spain.
The breathtaking architecture, delicious food, the
kind and warm people, and the astonishing
celebrations are all worth honoring. 
 Explorin Spanish Culture
Spain is the world’s second country with the most
UNESCO World Heritage cities and third in terms of
natural areas declared Biosphere Reserves. Its
extensive sandy beaches of the Mediterranean and
Atlantic Ocean, as well as of its two archipelagoes (the
Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands, respectively)
have been attracting visitors for decades.
In Spanish culture, people live life to the fullest. But,
not in a hurried way. Instead, Spaniards tend to take
their time, deliberately, to appreciate the world and
people around them. In Spain, people savor long,
multi-course meals and wander vivacious villages and
charming cities.
Whether it’s the middle of the day or night, Spain is
home to a vibrant street culture. Imagine neighbors
strolling around their blocks, older people playing
checkers on the sidewalks, and teenagers hanging out
in plazas. And, with such abundant art, architecture,
literature, cuisine, history, and more to explore, there’s
a wealth of cultural experiences to enjoy.
 Religion
Religion is an essential element of Spanish culture. 
Almost every Spanish city has Catholic churches and Cathedrals. The
predominant religion in Spain is Catholicism. The second largest religion of Spain
is Islam due to recent arrivals of African and Middle Eastern refugees. There is
also a large portion of Atheists and a small percentage of Jewish people.  
Nevertheless, religious holidays and traditions are quite popular with all the
majority of people in the region. 
Las procesiones (processions) are a prominent tradition of Spain that dates back
to the 16 century. They are organized marches similar to parades that are a
manifestation of faith and commemoration of religious happenings. 
Processions are such an important part of Spanish culture, the tradition was taken
to Latin America and became highly popular in countries like Guatemala. 
Catholic Christianity is the most popular religion in Spain with between 70-75%
of Spaniards identifying with this religion. Islam is the second largest religion.
Most Spaniards don’t participate regularly in religious worship.
The Spanish Church oversees one of the greatest repositories of religious
architecture (and art) in the world, among them the outstanding cathedrals of
Cordoba (a former mosque), Santiago de Compostela, Burgos, León, Seville and
Toledo, monasteries like San Millán, Silos, Monstserrat, Poblet or Las Huelgas, or
churches like Sagrada Familia in Barcelona by Antoni Gaudí.
 Family Dynamic in Spain
Like anywhere in the world, all families in Spain are different.
But, they’re usually warm, welcoming, and tight-knit. Many
families eat both lunch and dinner together. Communal meals
and other gatherings tend to become lively, and even a bit
noisy, as Spaniards do tend to speak somewhat loudly in
larger groups.
Family roles are modernizing in Spain, as they are around the
world, and more and more women have jobs outside the
home; but traditionally, the mother manages the household
while the father works outside the home.
The average Spanish family has two children. Extended
family members visit each other often, especially for large
weekend gatherings. In cities, families typically live in
flats. Outside of cities and especially in small villages, families
tend to live in houses with a small garden. It’s not uncommon
for people in their twenties or thirties to live at home until they
get married.
Teenage Life
Spanish schools focus primarily on
academics. After school, Spanish teens often
attend lectures, concerts and sporting
events. Fútbol (soccer) is the most popular
sport, with fans passionately dedicated to the
national team, La Roja (The Red One).
Cycling and basketball also take up a lot of
teens’ free time. On weekends, teenagers go
to parties parties, movies, and hang out
in cafés or the local town square. Perhaps
because of the climate and long daylight
hours, Spaniards begin socializing later in the
day and end later at night than their European
neighbors.
 Official Language
Spain has five official languages—Aranese, Catalan,
Galician, Basque (Euskara) and Spanish.
Spanish has 329 million native speakers and ranks as
the world’s number 2 in terms of how many people
speak it as their first language (the first being Chinese
at 1.2 billion native speakers).
Spanish is generally thought of as one of the easier
languages to learn. It’s a phonetic language, meaning
the way it’s written is generally the way it’s
pronounced.
Spanish and English share much of their vocabulary
as both languages have many words derived from
Arabic and Latin.
Spanish is the first language of over 72% of the
population. Galician is spoken in the region of Galicia,
and Basque is spoken by the population of Euskadi,
the Spanish Basque Country. Catalan is spoken in
Catalonia and the Balearic islands and Valencian is
spoken in the Valencia region. All of these languages
have official regional status.
 Communication Style
In Spanish culture, people stand close and frequently touch one
another on the arm while conversing. Making eye contact is important
and often maintained longer than in other cultures. Spaniards often use
exaggerated hand gestures and facial expressions to support what
they are saying. They may also speak loudly, laugh, and smile a lot.
Pointing at others is impolite but staring at others is more common than
in some other countries. Showing emotion in public is more acceptable
for women than for men.
Greetings
A common casual greeting involves a kiss on each cheek, starting with the left.
This form of greeting is especially common between women. Men may be
more likely to kiss women hello and goodbye than to shake their hand. 
• A firm handshake with eye contact and a smile is the appropriate greeting in
professional contexts.
• Once people become acquainted, greetings become a lot warmer and
Spaniards often prefer to embrace (abrazo). This may involve a hug
accompanied with a pat on the shoulder or elbow (between men) 
• Some Spanish men may place their left hand on the right forearm of another
person when shaking hands to indicate warmth. 
• In formal settings, you may refer to someone using their professional or
personal titles – for example, ‘Señor’ (Mr) for men and ‘Señora’ (Ms) for
women. However, it is rare for someone’s friends to address them using
their title and surname. Spaniards move onto a first name basis very quickly,
even in professional settings.
• The common verbal greeting is “Buenos dias” (Good day), “Buenas tardes”
(Good afternoon) or “Buenas noches” (Good evening/night) depending on
the time of day. People may also say “¿Como está?” (How are you).
• A more casual greeting is “Hola” (Hello).
Gift Giving
• When visiting someone’s house, bring gifts that can be
shared (for example, wine, chocolates or pastries). Be
aware that flowers are not common gifts since they can’t be
easily shared.
• It is expected that parent’s friends give gifts to children
when it is their birthday. However, gift giving on birthdays
(cumpleaños) is less common among adults. Spaniards
may treat all their friends to drinks instead of receiving
gifts. 
• Open gifts immediately upon receiving them so you can
remark on the gift and thank the giver in person. 
• Try and wrap gifts beautifully. 
• When giving flowers, the bouquet should count to an odd
number. Be aware that red roses have romantic
connotations while white lilies and chrysanthemums are
given at funerals.
 Naming
• Spaniards have a personal name(s) followed by two surnames – the father’s paternal family name and then the
mother’s paternal family name. For example: Hector Marίa GONZALEZ LÓPEZ. 
• People may have two personal names (e.g. Hector Marίa). The second personal name does not always reflect
the gender of the person. In this case, the first of the two may be used on its own, but the second should not
be. 
• Traditionally, the first of the surnames is the father’s family name and the second is the mother’s. However, one
may now put their mother’s family name first if they wish. 
• The father’s family name is more commonly used to address people. For example, Hector Marίa GONZALEZ
LÓPEZ would be appropriately abbreviated as Hector GONZALEZ.
• Among friends and family, Spaniards will often use nicknames to refer to one another. Commonly, Spaniards will
create nicknames based on an easily noticeable personal characteristic or as a shorter form of one’s first name.
For example, one’s nickname might be ‘el gordito’ (‘the fat one’) or ‘Pato’ (a shorter form of ‘Patricio’). 
• Most name ending in ‘o’ are male, while many name ending in ‘a’ are female. For example, ‘Patricio’ is the male
form, while ‘Patricia’ is the female form. Some Spanish women may take offence if their given name is spelt
incorrectly with an -o at the end.
• It is not customary for Spanish women to adopt their husband’s surnames at marriage.
• People often know four of their family names as each Spanish parent has two surnames. It was once a
historical point of honour to be able to trace back multiple generations of names to prove one’s ethnic purity.
 Food in Spain
• While each region of Spain has its own food specialties, Spanish
cuisine is generally Mediterranean in style with lots of olive oil, garlic,
onions, tomatoes and peppers. In Spanish culture, lunch is the main
meal of the day and is served around 2 or 3 pm, while dinner may
start as late as 9 pm. Fish and seafood are abundant, but red meat
and pork are also eaten nearly every day.
• Some traditional Spanish tapas
include albóndigas (meatballs), calamares (fried squid), or tortilla de
patatas (a potato omelet). Traditional summer dishes are paella (rice
with vegetables and seafood) and gazpacho (a cold tomato soup). For
dessert, carts on the street sell churros dipped in chocolate or flan (a
kind of custard) with caramel.
• Spaniards frequently drink wine and beer with their meals. They also
commonly drink bottled mineral water, even though in most parts of
the country the tap water is perfectly safe. At breakfast and after
meals, strong coffee is the almost universal drink. Few people drink
tea, but herbal infusions such as chamomile are popular. Soft drinks,
both domestic and imported, are widely available.
Traditional Clothing and
Fashion
• Traditional styled clothing representative of Spanish
culture is possible to admire
in toreros (bullfighters), Flamenco dancers, and
during festivities. 
• Some traditional pieces worth highlighting are:
• El traje corto (short suit): short jackets, combined
with a white shirt, and high-waisted trousers. It’s
usually worn by men with a
Spanish sombrero (hat). 
• La mantilla (veil): a long lace or silk veil that covers
women’s head and shoulders. It was once a
requirement to wear it before entering a church. 
• La peineta (comb): a tortoise-shell comb worn by
women to secure the mantilla in their hair. 
• Spain is known for having a thriving fashion
industry. The best designers and fashion brands of
the world have a presence in Spain’s fashion
events. 
Spanish Culture and Arts
• Spain is home to ingenious representatives of art and
architecture. Well-known artists like Pablo Picasso,
Francisco Goya, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró are
Spanish. 
• The country is home to beloved museums of classical and
contemporary art that pay homage to Spanish culture,
traditions, and history. 
• Get inspired with this empowering list of 
12 contemporary Spanish Female Artists that are redefining
Spain’s art scene. 
• Barcelona, Spain’s most popular tourist destination, was the
home of pioneer architect, Antoni Gaudí. He played a key
role in the design of whimsical and complex architectural
masterpieces in the Catalan city such as La Sagrada
Familia and Parc Güell. 
• Discover 
Everything You Need to Know About Spanish Architecture
 in this informative blog post. 
• Spanish culture is very-well represented in literature. As the
original representative of the Spanish language, the country
harbours literary treasures that date back hundreds of
years. Don Quixote is considered the best example of
Spanish literature and language. The novel by author
Miguel de Cervantes is over 400 years old. 
 Spanish Music and Dance
Spanish culture is known for having well-known musical melodies and rhythms. Spain has
produced incredibly talented songwriters and artists like Plácido Domingo, Enrique and Julio
Iglesias, Paco de Lucía, Alejandro Sanz, and Rosalía.  
Spanish music genres vary according to region. Flamenco, Rumba Catalana, and Bolero are
accompanied by string musical instruments and powerful dance. Modern and classical artists
often mix Flamenco and other traditional Spanish music with modern beats. 
Roman and Celtic influence is evident in the varied styles of Spanish music and
dancing. Flamenco is a signature dance often associated with Spain’s image. 
Here’s a list of other popular Spanish dances:
• Sardana from Catalonia
• Muiñeira from Galicia
• Fandango
• Zambra from Andalusia
• Jota from Valencia
• Sevillana from Seville
Celebrations and Festivals
• Spain’s rich history comes with prominent celebrations and traditions.
• Semana Santa (Holy Week) is one of the largest celebrations. It’s known for having
processions that commemorate the Passion of Christ. 
• El Día de Reyes Magos (Day of the Three Kings) is widely celebrated across the
country and is a favorite holiday for children. They receive gifts and there’s colorful
parades in the cities where they celebrate their long awaited arrival.
• Spanish “fiestas” (festivals) are large celebrations and carnivals devoted to a specific
Saint or City. These fiestas have traditional foods, fireworks, dancing, handmade
decorations, parades, concerts, and theater.
• Other traditions like the running of the bulls of San Fermín in Pamplona, and the
tomato fights of la Tomatina are experiences that draw millions of people and tourists
to celebrate Spanish culture. 
• Traditionally, most holidays in Spain have been religious in origin. At the national level
the most important of these are Holy (or Maundy) Thursday, Good Friday, Easter
 Monday, Corpus Christi, the Feast of Saint James (July 25), and All Saints’ Day
 (November 1). The most important day of the Christmas period, and the day on which
children receive presents, is the Day of the Three Kings, or Epiphany (January 6).
• One important holiday is both religious and civic. October 12 is the Day of the Virgin of
El Pilar and also the day on which the “discovery” of America is celebrated (a
counterpart to the celebration of Columbus Day in the United States); it has been
called at different times the Day of the Race (Día de la Raza) and Hispanic Day (Día
de la Hispanidad).
Do’s
• Take the time to engage in some small talk when meeting people. This can involve
humour or enquiring into someone’s family’s well-being. It is rude to talk about your
topic of interest without showing some thoughtfulness and consideration into people’s
lives.
• Ask where in Spain your counterpart is from and talk about your (good) impressions of
that city or region. If you have not heard of the place, show interest to learn about it. 
• Try to stay for a few hours of talking after a meal (la sobremesa). This can help form
close bonds. However, keep in mind that Spaniards tend to stay up late to socialise. If
you do not think you have the energy for a late night, simply thank them and say
goodnight. Spaniards are generally well aware that they keep late hours and most will
understand if you are not used to it.
• Speak up when you have something to say. Spaniards generally expect that people
will take the initiative to interject when they feel they have something worthy to
contribute to the conversation. If you wait until there is a pause in the discussion for
you to make your opinion known, you are likely to be kept waiting a long time. 
• Deliver sensitive news or criticism tactfully. The Spanish often speak with a lot of pride
and confidence, giving an impression that they are very self-confident. Do not let this
lead you to think they are immune to offence. Spaniards can be sensitive to comments
that appear to question their dignity (la dignidad). 
• Try to tolerate a higher volume of noise. Spaniards are generally used to a higher level
of noise in social situations or coming from a neighbouring house.
• Expect Spaniards to give you lots of recommendations and advice. Many people love
to give their opinion on things (whether they are asked for it or not).
 Don’ts
• Avoid criticising the Spanish culture, people or nation.
Though some Spaniards may openly complain about how
their country is being ‘ruined’ by current politicians,
remember that they are still very proud of their homeland
and its culture. 
• Do not bring up the topic of Catalan independence. You
cannot determine what position your Spanish counterpart
has on the topic, whether they are Catalonian or not. If the
subject is raised, it is best to simply ask questions and
allow them to inform you of their perspective as opposed to
sharing your own.
• Never say anything derogatory about a Spaniard’s family,
especially their mother.
• Do not imply that Spaniards are lazy, always late or bad at
their job. This stereotype can be frustrating as the Spanish
workforce is competitive and many people have to work
very hard to keep their jobs.
• Avoid mentioning Francisco Franco and his era of power.
This can initiate long debates.
• Do not joke about the Catholic Church or the Pope when in
the company of older Spaniards. The younger generations
are often quite relaxed about this kind of humour, but it can
seriously offend the elderly.
• Do not criticise someone’s favourite football team unless
you want to start a debate. Similarly, don’t imply that
football is a bad sport.
Thank you for the
attention!