When a foreigner comes to Spain, you may notice in Spanish customs very different from those of their home country. The best way to adapt is watching how they behave and Spanish customs have, if possible, previously a Spanish will explain some social customs to understand them better. In Spain there are social customs that everyone carries and then present them:
THE NAP
It's a habit very present in many countries, especially in Latin America, after eating lunch, Spaniards tend to rest between 15-30 minutes, without spending an hour nap, nap helps to have a better performance over day, in Spain it is necessary that people go to bed late and get up early.
LIFE ON THE STREET
The Spanish like to go out, like going for a walk, they like to watch people and see them. It is common to see people well arranged to go out, if only to do some shopping closer to home, the Spaniards like to dress well and invest much of their money on it. Do not feel strange when passing through the street people look at him, is a very common practice, as well as being in the eye and maintain prolonged eye contact, do not take it as a bad sign.
SOCIAL LIFE
Spaniards
have a habit to visit the bars or "pubs" in the afternoon or after
work, to meet friends, usually they will take wine and eating "tapas"
are an aperitif as meat, ham, pickles, cheese and other options , served with a glass of wine or beer and is the custom to go from bar to bar eating tapas. A
curious fact, in bars in Spain, is very common to see the floor covered
with cigarette butts, napkins and olive pits among other objects, this
means that is approved by the people in general, if a place is free from
these objects on the floor, it is considered frowned upon.It
is common among friends, you pay the round of the day, waiting for the
next time another friend do it until everyone pays a round, or cooperate
to pay the total consumption equally. People rarely pay your bills separately or individually. It is also common that when leaving the bar, people say goodbye to the
waiters with a familiar tone, even the first time they have been in
place.Moreover,
in many Spanish towns usually go out for wine in old or older areas,
where bars or taverns have only to mingle with others or gossiping, that
is the word they use to say they are talking gossip of others or celebrities, something very common among the Spanish people.
FAMILY LIFE
People in Spain are very friendly and it shows a good opportunity to experience it is to meet a Spanish family. When
greeting is done with demonstrations of affection as kissing or hugging
it is common to receive a lot of kisses by the grandmother or elderly
aunts, even if you are a stranger to visit them for the first time, at
least greet him with good handshake and a very friendly attitude, if greets women, they
will give you a kiss on each cheek, physical contact is considered as a
form of communication and is highly regarded among Spaniards.When
you visit a Spanish home, not remain silent, expressing his pleasure to
be in this house, do some nice comment on the furniture or food, what
will answer things like Really? O Do you think ?, after that, they insist to show the rest of the house. It is also common to display family photos, the car in the garage or some family heirlooms.
BREAKFAST
People regularly eat breakfast mid-morning in a bar or cafe, breakfast is something simple like coffee and a muffin or scones, orange juice (orange juice) is very popular at breakfast. With families, breakfast consists of coffee, a glass of milk or chocolate, cookies, muffins or toast. A very traditional Spanish breakfast or batons are churros with hot chocolate.
SPAIN FOOD
He eats regularly between 13:30 to 16:00 hours, the food is the main food of the Spaniards, many restaurants offer a menu (which is known in other countries as lunch or lunch or run meal of the day) is more economic to order something a la carte. Regularly this menu consists of a starter, it can be soup or salad, main dish, meat or fish and a dessert. It is accompanied by wine and includes bread and some other beverage. Mixed with soda (soda or soda in other countries) wine is usually taken.
