Habits of Spaniards you have to get used to
When you move to Spain, you will quickly notice that there are many cultural differences compared to the Netherlands or Belgium. Of course, it will take some getting used to but when you do so, they are very pleasant. For example, Spaniards have a more relaxed lifestyle, with a different daily schedule. So you change not just your place of residence, but also your lifestyle.
Grapes on New Year’s Eve
With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, it is nice to know something about one of Spain’s typical traditions. On New Year’s Eve, Spaniards head to the squares to celebrate the new year. When the church bells ring at 12 p.m., the Spaniards eat a grape on every chime. If you succeed, you will have a wonderful year full of happiness. Another fun fact is that wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve is also considered a good luck charm by Spaniards. So be sure to join in on these fun traditions if you want to have a great year!
The Spanish greeting
In the Netherlands and Belgium, three kisses are sometimes given on the cheeks, but only if you know someone and certainly not always. In Spain, on the other hand, it is customary to give two kisses, one on the left cheek and one on the right. However, men do this less often, they usually just give a hand. If they know each other well, for example two brothers, they often also give two kisses.
Parking and traffic rules with a grain of salt
It is common in Spain for cars to be parked with their blinkers on street corners, zebra crossings, bus parking spaces or even in handicapped parking spaces. They take little notice of other road users or of obstructing traffic. It is certainly no exception that several cars are waiting when someone is double-parked again. Also the traffic rules are often not followed very well: turning without blinkers, continuously pressing the brakes or cycling without lights is completely normal in Spain.
The famous siesta
Despite the fact that many Spaniards do not want to participate in the siesta anymore, it is still very common in Spain. Usually the siesta starts around 2.30pm and ends around 4.30pm, at which point everything comes to a halt. Shops close their doors, as well as offices, town halls and museums. Often, you can also park for free on the street for hours. However, these are golden hours for the catering industry, as many Spaniards and tourists use this time for an extensive lunch. Often, this time is also used for an afternoon nap.
If you, as a foreigner, don’t follow these habits, it is very annoying that the shops are closed in the afternoon. But with warm temperatures, it is easy to adapt and you will soon get used to this relaxed lifestyle. Although there has been a trend in the larger cities over the past few years to stop taking a siesta.
Time to eat
In Belgium and the Netherlands, breakfast is usually served around 8am, lunch around 12pm and dinner around 6pm In Spain, on the other hand, lunch is not eaten until 2pm and dinner shifts to 9pm. So don’t walk into a Spanish restaurant at 6pm, as the kitchen is often not even open yet. But you can often dine until 1 a.m.! This is of course quite an adjustment, but there are also nice advantages. Since it is already later in the day, Spaniards often drink red wine or a beer with their lunch, it is even strongly encouraged in restaurants.
These differences are also easy to explain, because in Spain the time zone should actually be slightly different. Spain should have the same time as Portugal and the Canary Islands (turned back one hour), but due to Franco during the Second World War this was never changed.
Finding a place for a delicious meal in Spain is certainly not difficult. The streets are lined with bars and restaurants that offer a Menú del Dia (daily menu). This usually consists of a starter, main course, dessert and a drink. In addition, bread is always provided, as in Spain a meal is rarely eaten without white, crusty bread.
Until the early hours
While Americans drink fast and a lot with many shots, beers, etc., Spaniards are rather slow drinkers: they run a marathon and not a sprint. Foreigners are used to going home when the bars close at 2 o’clock, but Spaniards continue to go to the clubs which stay open until the morning.
Spaniards don’t just stay awake longer when going out, they stay up late all the time. Because dinner is later, the TV timetable has also been adjusted accordingly. For example, the news only starts at around 9 p.m., followed by a TV show and another film which ends at around 2 a.m.
Not only adults, but also children crawl into their beds later. It is not unusual to see children playing in the streets between 11pm and 1am, even on school days. Still, the next day they get up in time to start the new day.
No home parties
In our country, it is perfectly normal to receive friends at home for a cosy party, but this is not the case in Spain. It is even a bit taboo, as it is seen as being financially strained. The habit is always to go to a bar or restaurant or to meet in the street or in a square. However, drinking in public places is illegal in Spain, but the police are not likely to intervene.
So there are many differences in habits, but Spain is definitely a great place to live with friendly people and wonderful temperatures!
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Would you like to read more about customs in Spain and buying property in Spain? Take a look at our other blogs!
