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| Question | Answer |
| WHAT FESTIVALS DO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CELEBRATE? | Well, nowadays we don't celebrate too many festivals together. We celebrate Christmas day and New Year’s Eve. By the way, we usually have the custom of celebrate a summer meal in my sister's house. This is a big party and very funny. It's an advantage to be able to count on their house because we have enough room, and there are a big swimming pool and a paddle tennis court too. |
| WHICH CUSTOMS IN YOUR COUNTRY DO PEOPLE FROM ABROAD ENJOY? | It depends on country of origin or your age for example. Because what's funny for one person can be rude or even disgusting for another. I'm not sure, maybe young people prefer those ones related with party, summer and alcohol. And adults are more comfortable with food customs, Easter or April’s fair for instance. |
| WHICH ASPECTS OF LIFE IN YOUR COUNTRY MIGHT BE DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY? | Well, it's possible I suppose, but perhaps the most immediate difficult aspects are Spanish eating customs and timetables. We have lunch or dinner very late or start the night around 12:30-2:00 am. Another aspect that might be difficult is the physical contact during a conversation because some people could think that is an invasion of personal space. And, also, we normally talk so loud. |
| HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO A COUNTRY WHERE YOU FOUND CERTAIN ASPECTS OF LIFE DIFFICULT? | No, I’ve never been abroad, so, I really don't know. But, perhaps, as far as I know, the dirt and chaos in some parts of India, the food in Arab countries, too spicy for me... And also, that Japanese avoid physical contact with friends and family. |
| TELL ME ABOUT ONE FO YOUR FAVOURITE COSTUMS OF SPAIN | Well, I’m not into typical customs, I find the most of them absurd, but perhaps one of them could be to spend a lot time chatting with a friend in a café, or maybe to say good morning, good afternoon to strangers when you enter a lift or stand in line at the bus stop. |
| What is the custom here in Spain when you meet someone for the first time? | it is customary to shake hands or kiss each other on both cheeks... |
| Tell me about some of the marriage customs here in Spain. | Civil or religious marriages. Same-sex marriage in Spain became legal on July 3, 2005. Everything starts with the ceremony.What happens next is the “cocktail” and after that the lunch or dinner and finally free bar and dance. |
| What typical food is eaten at a wedding? And drink? | The dinner or lunch, usually involves a starter, a couple of seafood dishes, followed by fish and/ or meat and, finally, the wedding cake.Throughout the meal white wine is followed by red, and Cava is served with the cake . Finally comes the coffee (dancing energy) and, as if anyone actually needed it by now, the liqueurs. |
| If I were invited to somebody’s house for dinner, what would you recommend me to take with me? | It depends where are you going to, but it's usually to take a bottle of good wine, or pastries and snack cakes. If there are children it's a good idea to take something for them. |
| Do you think it’s important to learn about customs from other countries? Why? | Yes. Because it would be a great opportunity to try new things such as traditional cuisine, music, customs, although the host countries should welcome culture differences as well. |
| Do you know any British customs? | I really don't know too many customs, maybe the most commons. For example, to drink a cup of tea at 5 o'clock; The British are known for politeness, self-discipline and the ‘ironic’ sense of humour.Britain has traditional dishes such as fish and chips or English breakfast. The Rolling cheese. |
| What is one of your least favorite customs? | . |
| Is there a custom you would ban? | . |
| How late is acceptable when meeting with friends? | . |
| Would you leave a bar/restaurant because your friend was too late? | . |
| What traditional foods and drinks do you have in your country? | . |
| Are certain foods associated with regions / holidays? | . |
| Does your country maintain religious traditions and celebrations? | . |
| What are the big religious holidays in your country? Do people still understand them as such? | . |
| Do you know the origins of the Tomatina? | I have no idea about the origins of the Tomatina. But, I think that there is no one definitive version of how La Tomatina started. I just know that The tomatina is a festival from the town of Buñol which is in Valencia. Essentially it is a huge food fight, where the weapons are 150,000 fat tomatoes and it is taken place on the last Wednesday of August |
| And what about the origins of the Fallas in Valencia? | It is one of the most well known fiestas in Spain and the most important festival in Valencia. “Falla” in medieval Valencian means “torch”. A legend goes that the carpenters would hold a fiesta on their patron saint day – San José on March 19th and they would burn wood chips in the doorways of their workshops to celebrate the winter arriving to its end. For this they would use a lamp called a “parot”. Over time the carpenters tried to outdo one another, adorning their bonfires and even dressing the parot as a person or client who had been particularly annoying to them throughout the year. This custom has continued to evolve and every year the montages seen are more complicated and spectacular than before. |
| Do you know the origins of the Sanfermines in Pamplona? | The origin of the fiesta of San Fermín goes back to the Middle Ages and is related to three celebrations: religious ceremonies in honour of San Fermín, who is their patron saint, trade fairs and bullfights. Every year, thousands of Pamploneses (people from Pamplona) and visitors, dressed from head to toe in white clothing with red handkerchiefs around their necks for running of the bulls over all, among other activities. |
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