Siesta and Fiesta in Spain

Those who come to Spain for the first time are often slightly perplexed by the local culture. But later, when all the nuances of life in Spain become clear – you fall in love with this country completely and irrevocably!

Spain is a very bright and colorful country with its own special culture, which is not always understandable to an ordinary European. This is what makes it so popular among tourists. I want to come back here and learn more and more. And the passionate Spanish people, who at first glance may seem slightly aggressive, are actually incredibly friendly, sincere, real and are not afraid to show their emotions.

Fiesta, siesta, magnana and other exotic words for us. It’s worth dealing with all this so that you won’t be surprised later.

What time is siesta in Spain?

Siesta and fiesta are often confused, believing that they are the same thing. Today we will figure out what a siesta is and what a fiesta is and show you the difference between these concepts.

So, a siesta is the time allotted for lunch rest, including sleep. This tradition is firmly rooted among the Spanish people, and despite the fact that Spain now receives many tourists, the locals are in no hurry to give up the opportunity to take a break in the midday heat.

Siesta time in Spain occurs in different regions at different times. But often it is from one o’clock in the afternoon until 4 pm. Usually, the siesta time will coincide with the hottest part of the day.

Yes, for a traveler, a siesta is a disaster, bringing a lot of inconveniences. Most shops, restaurants, museums and other institutions are closing. Moreover, the break is not 30-60 minutes, as it happens in Europe, but as much as 2 or even 3 hours! We recommend not to get annoyed and angry, but to become like the locals and take advantage of this time to renew your strength.

Fiesta in Spain as a way of life

Now let’s talk about the fiesta. A fiesta is a celebration, a party, a festival and all that sort of thing. Spaniards are passionate and cheerful people, they prefer a calm and measured lifestyle and will never trade the opportunity to have fun and relax for everyday things. That is why there are many different holidays in Spain – state, religious and local, for which local authorities also allocate a day off. Holidays in Spain are always bright and on a grand scale and can last for more than one day. And it doesn’t matter if it’s a small holiday in one city or a whole festival for half the country. Often, the reason for a fiesta can be banal, in our opinion, events – a good mark at school, a new hairstyle, a necessary purchase, and the like. As they say, just say the word…

A few more cultural features of Spain

Manyana – or “calmness, only calmness.” Another cultural feature that vividly reflects the character of the inhabitants of the Spanish Kingdom. Manyana translates as “tomorrow”. No urgent deliveries, no urgent repairs, and so on. Everything is tomorrow, or even better, the day after tomorrow. And this is not a joke. Spaniards are in no hurry and enjoy every moment, but everyday life can wait.

And what urgent matters can there be if the neighbors have not yet discussed the latest news, talked with their friends and exchanged a few words with tourists. Yes, the Spaniards are a very sociable nation. They can start a conversation with an outsider absolutely without embarrassment or awkwardness. And their loudness in their voice and active gestures may even scare them at first. But after talking a little with the locals, it becomes clear that they are just very emotional and do not hide their emotions, whatever they may be. And this is another feature of the Spanish people.

Wine is a hotel cultural component of Spain. And not only wine, but also other alcoholic beverages – sherry, vermouth, rioja. Accompanying a meal with alcohol is an obligatory component of lunch, dinner, and sometimes breakfast. Maybe that’s why Spaniards are so friendly?

Another “unpleasant” moment for tourists is the lack of Internet in most places of public catering. The fact is that Spaniards really appreciate live communication, especially during meals. That is why the owners of establishments often do not connect to the World Wide Web.

Also, the people of Spain are incredibly fond of walking. This is also considered as a separate cultural feature. For evening walks with your loved one or friends, there is even a separate name – paseo.

And, perhaps, another bright “feature” of the Spanish people is the pension. In Spain, a pension is not a sentence, but a second youth, the opportunity to do what you love, play sports, travel around countries, meet friends and so on. You certainly won’t find grandmothers at the Spanish entrances who don’t budge during the day and discuss everyone passing by. Spanish pensioners have too many plans for such a “vacation”.