Spain, one of the most popular countries for those who want to spend a vacation lying on the beach, is well-known as the world’s leading producer of olive oil. Spanish olive oil plantations and companies responsible for the production and distribution of this product export about 44% of the total amount of olive oil produced in the world. The majority of olive.
While staying in Spain, one will easily find entertainment opportunities and bars. In fact, Spain is the European country with the biggest number of bars and cafés. Therefore, you’ll have no problem finding a place to spend evenings relaxing in the company of friends. By the way, Madrid, the capital of Spain, is the city where the oldest restaurant in the world is located. The restaurant that was opened in 1725 is still working and serving delicious meals and drinks to locals and foreigners.
Today, we gathered a number of interesting facts about the Kingdom of Spain that we want to share with our readers. Let’s see what these facts are…
Spain: 8 interesting facts about the country with an impressive coastline and multiple beaches
1. Spaniards place value on the principle of enjoying life
People learning Spanish and those who are interested in its culture know that one of the most frequently used words in the country is the word “mañana”, which means “tomorrow”. The expression “mañana mañana” can also be heard rather often as it reflects the main principle of the Spanish lifestyle. Spaniards believe that there is no use worrying about things. By saying the expression, they encourage a person to relax and simply enjoy life. Truth be told, Spaniards can give a very good example of stress-free life to many people who struggle to cope with stress and worries, an interesting Spain fact.
It doesn’t mean that they are lazy or reluctant to work. They are very hardworking and persistent people who value their free time and mental health. They do not think that the best way to live life to the fullest is to occupy oneself with as much work as possible.
2. Spain is characterized by diversity in terms of culture
One of the first things one will notice while travelling and visiting different cities of Spain is its diversity. The country is divided into regions, with natives in every region having their own traditions. This is understandable because the Spaniards appeared after several ethnic groups of people united and formed a new country. You may have heard about several regions of Spain trying to get independence.
3. The country has the tradition of eating 12 grapes when celebrating New Year
Every country has its own traditions of celebrating the New Year, and Spain is not an exception. One of the traditions that celebrates the New Year is the tradition to eat 12 grapes while the clock hits 12 beats, a fun Spain fact. The tradition was born out of the desire of wine shop owners. They had so many grapes that they needed to get rid of them. The idea of the tradition is to make a wish for every grape you eat. If you successfully manage to eat all 12 grapes before the last beat of the clock, you’ll be very lucky in the year that has come.
4. Spain is the country of wine
Spain is a real heaven for those who like wine. There are so many wine shops and grape plantations in the country, that one will have no problem finding the wine he/she wants. Apart from the Spanish red wines that are known all over the world, the country offers a wide range of white wines. The Spanish equivalent for champagne is the wine called Cava. It’s produced of a special type of grapes and is often served to celebrate New Year.
5. The Kingdom of Spain is multilingual
You’ve been dreaming about visiting Spain, but the lack of Spanish language knowledge stops you? Don’t worry! In Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia you will be able to get the necessary information by asking questions in English.
Spanish language is very popular as it is used for business and in everyday conversations in many parts of the world. You may be surprised to learn that Spanish is the second most popular language after English, with many people in America, Asia and Africa speaking it fluently.
Since the country is divided into regions, the diversity of Spanish spoken by people living in the country is natural. Catalan, Basque, Galician and Aranese are all the variations of the Spanish language that are considered to be co-official languages.
6. The country had different names
During the course of its history, Spain was given different names. First, it was called Iberia, meaning the land of rivers. After the country came under the control of the Greeks, it was given the name “Hesperia”, which translates as “the land of the setting sun”.
Later, the country turned into “Ispania” or “the land of rabbits”. After the Roman invasion, the name was changed to “Hispania”. Over the course of time, the country got the name “España”, which we know today, an interesting Spain fact.
7. The majority of the country’s population adheres to Catholicism
Even though the native population is very religious, not many people go to church regularly or visit church ceremonies. Spain is a country that has a special type of religion called football. Locals love this activity, which is not just a sports game for them.
8. Spain is the country where the author of the most meaningful book of all times was born
Here we are talking about “Don Quixote” written by Miguel Cervantes, a fun Spain fact. While staying in Spain, one will see many statues of the two main heroes of the novel – statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza, his squire. Apart from granting those two the status of national heroes, the novel itself was proclaimed to be the most meaningful novel of all the times.
Conclusion
Spain is one of those countries where one can have a vacation filled with various types of activities. You can go to explore beaches, sunbathe or spend time in one of the multiple cafés in order to relax and forget about all the troubles for a while. If you want to learn more about the culture and history of the country, you can go on different excursions and visit places that are included in the list of the World Heritage Sites. By the way, Spain has as many as 44 of them.
I hope that this article on Spain facts was helpful! If you are interested, visit the Country Facts Page!
