FIESTAAAAA... SPAINisDIFFERENT!

Some Spanish customs...... Party!!! FIESTAAAA

Most people equate Spain with Flamenco and bullfights. There are still plenty of bullfights and the Running of Bulls has made the little town of Pamplona world famous. In fact bullfights form a vital part of more or less every Fiesta, wherever you are in Spain.

Flamenco is less widespread, the musical tradition of Spain’s hot, exotic south with its heart in Andalusia. In April there’s the Feria de Abril, in Seville, a whole week of singing, dancing, drinking the region’s finest Sherry and enjoying Tapas. Seville is also home to the extraordinary Semana Santa, Easter week, with its breathtaking processions.

In Valencia during March there’s Las Fallas de San José, a city-wide party with fireworks, food, drink, dancing and music. And in nearby Buñol during August you’ll find an annual event called La Tomatina, the planet’s biggest tomato fight. Nobody knows how or why the fifty year tradition started, but it attracts thousands of visitors every year. In short, no matter where you choose to live in Spain there will be at least one Fiesta near you, probably a whole host of them.

Customs and etiquette in Spain – Eating

If you’re invited into a local person’s home, it’s good manners to take either chocolates, pastries, cakes, wine, liqueur or flowers for the hostess. If your hosts have children they will probably be included in your evening, and it’s also good manners to take a small gift for them.

If you’re at a formal meal, always stay standing until your host sits. Keep your hands visible while you’re eating, resting your wrists on the edge of the table. You can start eating when your hostess starts. Fruit is eaten with a knife and fork, not with your hands. And you’re not supposed to get up until the guest of honour does.

Cultural etiquette in Spain – What about the siesta?

There are two types of siesta in Spain, one for businesses and one for the public. Siesta time for shops and businesses tends to run from around 2pm until 5pm, bars and restaurants close between 4pm until 9pm, catering for the throngs of siesta-lovers who want to while away the afternoon with good food and drink. But siesta is another key aspect of life in Spain that’s changing fast. In summer 2012 Spanish business hours law was relaxed. These days businesses can stay open for 90 hours a week and open a maximum of ten Sundays a year. This goes some way towards bringing Spain into line with the rest of Europe’s working practices.

Having said that, siesta had been dying a death for some time before the law changed. Commercial and economic pressures plus the popularisation of air conditioning means more Spaniards work through the hottest part of the day. Even so, Spanish people still tend to sleep an average of an hour less than other European countries.

Spanish etiquette – Night life

Spanish night life literally lasts all night. At midnight, when the rest of Europe is winding down, the streets in Spain are just filling up with people of every age, who stay out until 3am and later. How long will it last? As you can imagine, the changing face of the traditional siesta might eventually change the country’s love affair with late nights on the town.

Business traditions in Spain – Meeting Etiquette

When you are introduced to someone for the first time, shake hands. If you know the person already and you’re male, you can embrace and pat each other on the shoulder. Some men use a two-handed shake, with the left hand on the other person’s right forearm. Women who know one another kiss on both cheeks, left first.

What to call someone? If it’s a formal occasion you can call the person ‘Don’ (male) or ‘Dona’ (female) plus their first name.

Business etiquette in Spain – Developing good personal relationships

Like many people around the world, the Spanish like to do business with those they know and trust. It makes sense to spend time getting to know your business colleagues and making the effort to develop good relationships.

As a rule face-to-face is better than communicating by telephone or in writing. Modesty is admired, showing off isn’t. And communications in general are formal.

It’s extremely important to avoid confrontation if at all possible because Spaniards do not like to admit they’re wrong, especially in public. Like many societies, Spanish people do not like to look foolish and don’t like to lose face. You might notice that people don’t give their opinions at meetings, which makes it particularly important to tune into non-verbal cues.

Character is very important, as are hierarchy and rank. Spanish business traditions mean it’s best to deal with people of a similar level to you, so much so that you might never meet the senior people who actually make the decisions.

If someone interrupts while you’re speaking, or everyone talks at once, is isn’t because they’re being rude. It’s because they are really interested in and excited about what you have to say.

Spaniards are also known to be extremely thorough, going into minute detail to make 100% sure something has been properly understood. An oral agreement usually comes before a formal contract, and you are expected to stick to your contract meticulously, to the letter.

Business dress? It’s best to look conservative, smart and formal. You should never just turn up – always make an appointment first. And bear in mind you might not do any business or even make a decision of any kind during your first meeting, usually a formal affair dedicated to getting to know one another.

While English is widely spoken, it’s polite to also provide written materials in Spanish.

Driving in Spain

Expats are allowed to use their driver’s licenses for as much as 6 months, until their Spanish driver’s license comes through. This is only possible if you come from a country with a ‘driving agreement’ with Spain, where your license is ‘recognized’ and can be converted into a Spanish one. If your home country doesn’t have an agreement with Spain, you will need to go through the learning process from scratch and take the Spanish driving test, including exams.

• On motorways the speed limit is 120 km/h
• In built up areas the speed limit is usually 50 km/h
• It is illegal to use a mobile phone while driving unless you use hands-free
• You must wear a seat belt
• if you drive a motorbike, you must wear a helmet
• emergency on the road? Call 112

Thas all for today, enjoy your time!