Seven things you should know about Spain
Spain took over the EU Presidency from Sweden on 1 July 2023. Belgium, Hungary, and Spain form the latest presidency trio of the European Union Council. Did you know that Spain is sometimes referred to as the "land of rabbits" and that a big tomato fight takes place every year? Read on for more facts about Spain.
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The Tower of Hercules is one of Spain's 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is the world's oldest intact and operating lighthouse.
Photo: mauritius images / Hwo / imageBROKER
- Spanish is not the only language spoken in Spain: in fact, there are a number of distinct languages spoken throughout the national territory. The vast majority of the population speak Castilian, or Spanish as we call it in English, but other widely spoke languages include Catalan, Galician, and Basque.
- Today, Spain is often translated as "the land of rabbits" but this is based on a misconception. Whilst it is true that Spain was named after the rabbits that live there, the word derives from an ancient Phoenician word meaning "land of the rock hyrax" because the rabbits were mistaken for this native African species.
- Whilst Spain is a Catholic country, the number of practising Catholics is declining. Some 57 percent of the population was still Catholic in 2022 whereas the number was just under 80 percent as recently as 2005. Active participation in religious activities also declined sharply during the same period.
- Valencia, an autonomous region in Spain, hosts the so-called "Tomatina" each year – probably the biggest tomato fight in the world in which people throw tomatoes at one another for an hour and everyone gets their money's worth. Overripe tomatoes are used so as to prevent injury. The origin of this tradition remains unclear.
- Boasting a total of 49 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Spain is ranked fourth in the world, together with France shortly behind Germany (51), China (56), and Italy (58).
- Rather than receiving presents on Christmas Eve, children in most regions in Spain get their presents on Three Kings' Day (6 January). The Spanish equivalent of our April fool's day is December 28th. Another tradition involves eating twelve grapes on New Year's Eve, one for each of the twelve chimes that ring in the New Year, which is said to bring luck for the coming year.
- Don't be surprised if you find yourself standing in front of a closed shop in Spain in the middle of the afternoon: it is quite common for shops to close between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. due to the famous "siesta", which, of course, has a knock-on effect on the rest of the day, so supper is generally not eaten before 8 or 9 p.m.
The EU Council Presidency was transferred to Spain on 1 July 2023 for a period of six months. Spain (2nd half of 2023), Belgium (1st half of 2024) and Hungary (2nd half of 2024) will form a presidency trio. The three states have elaborated a joint programme in advance, which will set the agenda for the Council during a total period of 18 months.