In this article, we will be discussing fun facts about Spain, a wealthy European country. There are many facts that you already know about Spain. But this article’s fun facts will enlighten you about some information which may be unknown to you until now.
If you’re planning a trip to Spain, then you definitely need to read this article. If you’re just curious about this country, then again, this article will help you a lot. Let’s start reading some fun facts about Spain.
Table of Contents
Fun facts about Spain for kids
In this section, we will discuss some fun facts about Spain for kids. Here are some facts that will definitely draw the kids’ attention, and they will get curious about the country:
The capital
The capital of Spain is Madrid which is also the largest city in Spain. Barcelona is the second-largest city.
The language
After Chinese, Spanish is the language which is spoken most by people around the world. That is because plenty of regions of the world were Spanish colonies during the early ages.
Original name
The original name of Spain is El Reino de Espana which means” the kingdom of Spain.”
Royal family
Spain has a royal family like Britain, and the royal palace is located in Madrid.
Currency
Like many other European countries, Spain has the Euro as a system of money.
Right is not wrong
Unlike other fellow countries, it is legal to drive through the right portion of the road in Spain.
Neighbor
Spain is very close to France. It is the mountain Pyrenees which separates the two countries.
Cuisines
Spain offers various kinds of foods. Paella and Tapas are the most famous among them. Paella is made of rice with other ingredients like chicken, pepper, and beans, while Tapas is a snack.
Tourist spot
Spain is very popular among tourists.
The Spanish economy benefits by a large amount every year.
Two surnames
Every Spanish person gets two surnames. The first surname they get from their father and the second from their mother.
National anthem
The national anthem of Spain has no lyrics. Only three other countries have anthems with no lyrics.
National animal and sport
The national animal of Spain is the bull, and bullfighting is also the country’s national sport.
Real Madrid
The popular football club Real Madrid has won the highest number of European cups than any others.
Olive oil
Spain produces the most amount olive oil than Italy and Greece. There are approximately 320 million olive trees in the Spanish region.
Late-night playing
In southern Spain, the weather gets hot, and the lifestyle of the people is different there. They have a late lunch and start the outdoor activities late. It is normal for the children to play in the parks at even 10 p.m.
Facts about Spain culture
The European country Spain has a vibrant and long history. They have so many attractive heritages and practices to be proud of. Due to the heritage and culture, the country Spain holds uniqueness from the other European countries and other territories where Spanish is the main language.
In this article, we will look at some facts about Spain’s culture. We assure you that you will discover a new dimension of the country Spain which you never thought you could.
The only European land which shares two cities with African terrain
Ceuta and Merilla are these two cities of Spain. However, these two cities are the bare bones that are situated outside the European border. They share their land with Morocco, which is an African country.
These two cities are like fortresses on the shore of the Mediterranean sea. The city of Ceuta stands in the right portion of the Gibraltar system. On the other hand, Merilla locates in the east, near Argelia.
Due to their geographical location, these two prominent cities are in the middle of the conflict for centuries. The action of coming to live permanently in a foreign country has been continued by these two cities. A large number of people made their way from Africa to Europe through these areas.
Ceuta and Merilla are both an inseparable part of the country of Spain.
Football plays a huge part in the Spanish tradition
Football is the most popular sport in Spain. Real Madrid and FC Barcelona are the most prominent football clubs in the world.
These two clubs play a huge contribution to the world of football. They have been competing against each other for a very long time, and their rivalry is almost 100 years old.
The most important fact is that these two clubs have got a huge fan following Spain and all over the world.
Literature is an important part of Spanish culture
In Spanish tradition, literature plays a very significant role. There are many famous names among the Spanish writers. El Cantar del Mio Cid is the most ancient heroic poem that describes El Cid’s story of who defeated the Moors to take back control of Spain.
This heroic poem is so famous and old that a phrase has originated from it. In English, we know it as “the coast is clear.” In the Spanish language, it says, “No hay Moros en la costa.
Miguel de Carvantes is the other famous poet who wrote the popular novel Don Quixote. It is also described as the very first modern novel. This is also considered a valuable piece of world literature.
Spain has a variety of languages
Besides Spanish, the people of Spain speak different languages and accents. Among these languages, five of them are official in their respective areas. They are Catalan, Valencian, Galician, Basque and Aranes.
Nearly all Spanish people can speak Spanish. They all have different accents, like the British people and the Americans.
Spanish dancing is considered the most sensual
The Spanish people express their feelings and emotions through dancing. Many dance forms have originated in Spain, like Jota, Copla, Fandango, Flamenco, etc.
They perform these forms of dancing with the help of various kinds of clothes and sensuous tools as a rhythmic accompaniment.
When you go to Spain and watch the dancers perform, your heart will be overwhelmed with a feeling that you’ve never felt before.
You may not control yourself anymore and want to join the dancers on the stage. Not only in Spain, but Spanish dancing made an impact on western culture also.
La Tomatina is the most unique festivity of all
If you wish to go to Spain and participate in some local festivities, then La Tomatina should be your top priority. Every year on the last Wednesday of August in the city of Valencia, a small slice of ham is put on top of a large post. This festival commences when a person gets up to the post to claim the ham.
About 20,000 people gather at 11 a.m., and 150 tons of tomatoes are tumbled along the ground. These tomatoes are specifically plucked for the festival. For hours the participants fling tomatoes at each other, and then the roads and the participants get crystal clear by hose pipes.
This festivity may seem bizarre to some, but it is actually fun. You need to wear a pair of gloves and goggles. And don’t forget to smash the tomatoes before you fling them.
Drifting off to sleep is actually a custom in Spain
This may sound way more unusual than the La Tomatina festival, but it is true. Taking a short sleep between work is very important to the Spanish people. They take it so seriously that they even made it a custom.
After lunchtime, taking a daytime sleep is allowed for the employees in offices and the workers in the restaurants. They believe that it is essential for them to regain their strength.
But to tell you the truth, this particular custom has been disintegrated in recent years due to the busy schedules of modern people. This is now only applicable to the entrepreneurs and people who work at the dinners.
Spanish customs relate to their faith
The customs of the Spanish people are all connected with their faith. Dia de Reyes is very similar to Christmas, where three wise men come at night to give presents to the nice kids, just like Santa Claus.
Another important festival is called Semana Santa. It’s also known as a holy week, which leads to Easter. It was being celebrated back to the sixteenth century.
Facts you didn’t know about Spain
In this particular section of the article called fun facts about Spain, we will talk about the facts you didn’t know about Spain.
Did you know that Spain is the most visited country after France and the USA by tourists? If you didn’t, then pay attention below. You are going to find out more fun facts about Spain that will leave you speechless.
The highest mountain of Spain is not located in Spain
Mount Teide is the highest mountain in Spain, and it is not located in the Iberian peninsula. This mountain is about 3718 meters tall. This is actually a dormant volcano. That is why the beaches of Tenerife island are full of black sand.
Spanish people have a loud voice
An interesting thing about Spanish people is that they like to speak in a loud voice. It is much easier to identify them in a crowd because of their powerful tone. This characteristic is a part of who they are.
Being naked is legit in Spain
Yes, you read that right. The weather is warm sometimes and full of sunshine. So if you want to get rid of your clothes, you can do that. Though in some places, it is best not to show every part of your body.
Both Barcelona and Madrid have more population than New Zealand
47 million people live in Spain. Approximately 6.5 million people reside in greater Madrid, and greater Barcelona is 5.5 million people. So it is clear that both cities have more inhabitants than New Zealand.
The Spaniards have got a great mortality rate
According to research, Spanish people have a great mortality rate. The women live approximately 83 years while most men cross 79 years. Only Japanese people have a better mortality rate than the Spanish.
Spain has no tooth fairy but has a muse
Yes, Spain has no tooth fairy. But they have a muse called Ratoncito Perez. He takes the tooth from the kids who keep them under their pillow and puts a coin instead of the tooth.
The Spaniards are not so righteous
Most of the Spanish population is Roman Catholic. But they are not the typical church-going type. Only 13.6% of Spanish people regularly visit the church. They are often Roman Catholic believers.
Spanish people enjoy themselves a lot
People in Spain are lazier than the other European people. They love to spend time drinking, eating, and sleeping. Research showed that an average Spaniard spends 16 hours a day doing absolutely nothing important.
Spain plays a significant role in the world of football
Not only Barcelona and Real Madrid, when it comes to their national football team, the Spanish certainly know their way. They won the FIFA world cup in 2010 and also won the Euro Cup in 2008 and 2012.
Final thoughts
We have come to the end of the article named fun facts about Spain. We are confident that this article will help you to know more about a wonderful country. Don’t forget to give us your valuable feedback as we love to hear from you.
