Facts About Spain and Spanish

What year did the Spain win its first World Cup football title?

2010 (was the 8th country to have ever won)

What percentage of the world's olive oil product is done in Spain?

43%

How do Spaniards celebrate the New Year?

By eating one grape with their family for each bell strike of the clock

In Spain, what is the basis of the social structure?

Family, including both the nuclear and the extended family, which sometimes provides both a social and a financial support network.

What is it customary to do on St. George's Day (April 23rd) in Barcelona?

To exchange a book and/or a rose with the person you love.

What is the divorce rate in Spain?

17% (relatively low compared to over 50% in USA)

How many visitors does Barcelona have per year compared to Madrid?

Barcelona- 15 million Madrid-6-7 million

What book was voted the "most meaningful book of all time" in 2002 by a panel of 100 top authors?

Don Quixote, the famous book written by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes in 1605

What are people often referred to within formal occasions?

Don or Dona and their first name

True or False? Flamenco is a type of dance.

False It is a musical style, which sometimes has dancing to it.

True or False? Bars are kept extremely clean in Spain and it is considered disrespectful to throw things on the floor.

False It is completely acceptable and normal to throw things on the ground in bars. Most of the time, a dirty floor means a good bar.

True or False? It is extremely important to tip at every meal in Spain.

False It is not customary to tip in Spain, especially for cheap meals.

True or False? Same sex marriage has always been and is currently illegal in Spain.

False Same sex marriage has been legal in Spain since 2005.

True or False? Spain is not known very well for its festivals.

False Spain is renowned for its lively festivals, including San Fermín ("running of the bulls") in Pamplona and Tomatina ("tomato battle") in Buñol.

True or False? The Tooth Fairy is a big deal in Spain and many people use the story with their children.

False The Tooth Fairy is a mere rodent in Spain, referred to as Ratoncito Pérez.

True or False? Spain has the most marriages in Europe.

False There are fewer marriages in Spain than in any other EU country expect Sweden.

True or False? All Spaniards are native speakers of (Castilian) "Spanish".

False There are four official languages in Spain (Castilian, Catalan, Basque, and Galician), three unofficial regional languages (Asturian, Aragonese, and Aranese), and several more dialects.

The Spanish often use gestures with, or to substitute for words. What are some gestures that are thought to be offensive?

Flicking the teeth with the thumbnail, wiggling fingers from the nose, and grabbing the left arm with the right while making a left-handed fist are all thought to be offensive.

Where did the name "Spain" diverge from?

From the word "Ispania" meaning land of rabbits

What is the official name of Spain?

Kingdom of Spain

When do Spaniards typically have lunch and dinner?

Lunch: 1-3 pm Dinner: 10 pm (completely different from other Europeans)

What city is the physical center of Spain and what is place is the exact center of the country?

Madrid is the physical center of the country and the plaza Puerta del Sol is the exact center of the country.

How many tomatoes are usually thrown at La Tomatina?

More than 150,000 tomatoes

How many beaches does Spain have?

More than 8,000

What does one bring to the hostess when invited into a Spaniard's home?

One can bring chocolates, pastries, or cakes; wine, liqueur, or brandy; or flowers to the hostess

What foods were imported into Europe by Spain?

Tomatoes, potatoes, avocados, tobacco, and cacao (for chocolate)

True or False? Breaks, free time, and siestas are a huge part of everyday Spanish culture.

True

True or False? Despite the beret being associated with France, the Basques in Northeast Spain invented it.

True

True or False? From 2008 to 2013, the Spanish national football team was named FIFA Team of the Year.

True

True or False? In 2013, Spain was the world's third most popular tourist destination (after France and the US).

True

True or False? In business face-to-face contact is preferred over written or telephone communication.

True

True or False? Spain has the second highest number of bars per inhabitants.

True

True or False? Spain is one of the world's biggest producers of saffron, and important ingredient in paella.

True

True or False? Spaniards own more cars than cells phones.

True

True or False? The Madrid subway is the second largest underground system in Europe and the sixth largest system in the world.

True

True or False? The national anthem of Spain has no words.

True

True or False? The quill pen is thought to have originated in Spain about 1,400 years ago.

True

True or False? There are no laws about public nudity in Spain.

True

True or False? Though Spain is more famous for its red wine than white, the majority of its vineyards have white grapes.

True

True or False? Each regional country of Spain (Pais Vasco, Cataluña, Galicia) has its own language, hymn, and flag.

True

True or False? On May 15th, all single women in Madrid visit the chapel called Ermita de San Isidro to prick their fingers with pins and put it in a vessel, in order to find a husband.

True

True or False? The Madrid-Barcelona route has the highest number of flights per week in the world.

True

True or False? Spanish people are very fond of food.

True A famous saying is "Barriga llena corazón contento" meaning "A full belly and a happy heart"

True or False? The majority of Spaniards are formally Roman Catholic.

True Although different religious beliefs are accepted.

True or False? 58 million tourists go to Spain every year, making it the fourth most visited country in the world.

True Fourth most visited country in the world

True or False? Spanish culture greatly influenced modern art from the late 1800s.

True Including artists such as Antoni Gaudí (Art Nouveau), Pablo Picasso (expressionism, cubism, surrealism), Joan Miró (surrealism), and Salvador Dalí (surrealism)

True or False? Owning one's home is very important to Spanish people.

True Some 80% of Spanish households do.

True or False? In Spain, people traditionally have two surnames.

True The first surname from the father, and the second from the mother.

True or False? Tortillas in Spain are different than tortillas from elsewhere.

True Tortilla española refers to a very popular egg and potato dish. Spaniards use the word "tortitas" to refer to flour/corn tortillas.

True or False? Most households buy fresh bread every day.

True Traditionally, they are ong baguettes called barras or pistolas. Bread is present (and required) at almost every meal.