Travel guide
Spain

The 12 keywords Spain

1. Abanico

From spring onwards, you will observe the art of handling theabanico, fan, on public transport and in the street. It's a great thing to do when the temperature rises above 30°C. It is the must-have souvenir to bring back from Spain. With prices ranging from a few euros to higher prices for models made of fine lace.

2. Castanets

The experts make them clap in the hand to produce a particular sound. Introduced in the 17th century, they were used to accompany a dance, the fandango, which was forbidden by the Church at the time. They owed their great popularity to the flamenco and Sevillana of the last century. Today they are still used for shows.

3. Chiringuito

It is a bit the equivalent of our beach huts. Brought back from Cuba by the Indianos, Spaniards who left to make their fortune in the New World, they developed in the 60s and 70s following the tourist boom and have been regulated since 2014. They will accompany your stays on the coast, with the right amount of drinks and food.

4. Gente (the)

The tabloid press plays an important role in the daily life of Spaniards, as evidenced by the circulation of the indispensable Hola (nearly 500,000 copies per week) and the daily programming of the "Corazón" section on a public channel. It follows the gente (the people), footballers, top models, bullfighters or royal families.

5. Marcha

The marcha is linked to the party. Ir de marcha or salir de marcha means to go out and have fun all night long. As a group, Spaniards start the evening by going from bar to bar. Traditionally, everyone buys a round. When the night is well underway, they join the discos. And the after party ends in the morning with chocolate con churros.

6. Movida

This movement emerged in Madrid at the end of the 70s. Initially clandestine, it developed in the 1980s in parallel with the advent of democracy. It was marked by a profusion of avant-garde works in all areas of creation, represented by the singer Joaquín Sabina and the filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar.

7. Once

You will come across many kiosks or street vendors working for the National Organization of the Spanish Blind (ONCE), which organizes the lotto to finance infrastructure for the blind and disabled. The Spaniards are very gambling, but the best is the gordo, whose draw on December 22 is followed throughout Spain.

8. Semana Santa

April marks the beginning of Holy Week in all of Spain, which varies from region to region, being more austere in the north and more noisy and colorful in the south. On this occasion, you will see huge pasos(portable altars) representing Christ or the Virgin, abundantly decorated and decorated with flowers and followed by the procession of penitents.

9. Tapas

Born in Andalusia, this practice of covering the drink with a small plate(tapa) with some food has spread throughout Spain. And today, Ir de chatos, ir de pinchos, ir de tapeo, are all expressions to designate the same practice: to meet around a drink and chat with friends. Around 2pm or around 8:30pm.

10. Turrón

This time it is a product that has spread throughout Spain to become the flagship dessert of Christmas. It is a specialty of the Valencian Community where most of its production is concentrated: a soft nougat of brown color, from Jijona or with a harder texture and based on whole almonds, for that of Alicante.

11. Uvas

On December 31, a grape, uva, must be swallowed at the stroke of midnight, so that the coming year goes well. Know that they come from the region of Novelda, province of Alicante. Of the Aledo variety, they are wrapped in paper from October so that they are beautiful on the tables and then shipped throughout Spain.

12. Zarzuela

Born in the middle of the 17th century, it is a kind of operetta where declamation alternated with singing to entertain the royal court. In the 18th century its repertoire was extended to everyday subjects and 19th century Spain used it to affirm its identity. This genre reached its nobility with the masterpieces of Bretón and Chapí.