Kids Guide to Spain

KIDS’ GUIDE TO

Spain

1

La Sagrada Familia

Welcome to Spain Spain is a southwestern European country on the Iberian Peninsula.

Once the most powerful nation in Europe, the Spanish monarchy funded exploration across the Atlantic Ocean. Today Spanish influence can be felt throughout North America and the New World.

Let’s learn about Spain from kids like you.

Lucia lives in Madrid, the capital of Spain, which is in the center of the country. She is 10 years old.

Lucia is learning to play classical guitar, also called Spanish guitar. This style of music is popular in Spain.

Lucia is a name from the Latin word lux which means “light” or “bringer of light.”

Lucia would like to play as well as her father. Sometimes she takes guitar lessons in person, which is fun. She also takes lessons and practices by using her computer.

2

Mateo is Lucia’s brother.

His name is the Spanish form of Matthew and means “gift of God.” Mateo is in middle school. He likes to play fútbol, or soccer, with his friends. It is lots of fun!

Fútbol is the national sport in Mateo’s country.

He dreams of playing professionally one day.

Lucia and Mateo love their country and hope you will, too. Let’s learn some more about Spain.

3

Where in the World?

Spain has an extensive coastline that includes the Mediterranean Sea, the north Atlantic Ocean, and the Bay of Biscay. The land also includes several mountainous regions. The Pyrenees Mountains in the northeast separate Spain from France, and smaller mountainous regions throughout the country serve to divide it regionally. Spain’s location served as a major trade route between Africa and Europe.

Jose lives in Bilbao. It is located in northern Spain and is surrounded by mountains. Bilbao is in Spain’s Basque Country, a historic area known for its architecture.

SPAIN

Maria lives in Alicante, a port city on Spain’s southeastern Costa Blanca, or “White Coast.” The city lies along the Mediterranean coastline.

4

Can You Find It? Madrid

Barcelona

Grenada

Salamanca

Bilbao

Seville

Valencia

Segovia 5

The diverse geography of Spain results in a variety of regional climates. Overall, Spain has a Mediterranean climate defined by hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. In the central Meseta plateau, winters are cold. Mountainous regions see higher amounts of rainfall and snow seasonally.

Alejandro lives in Barcelona, on the northeast coast. Summers are warm and humid, but the beach is a great place to stay cool.

Winters are cool and can be rainy.

Spain’s diverse geography includes extensive coastlines and several mountainous regions that divide a central plateau called the Meseta Central. There are also low grasslands and shrubs, freshwater habitats, wetlands, and wooded zones.

Spain is considered a biodiversity hotspot of the world. The coastal waters have a high level of biological variation, and distinct flora and fauna exist in intertidal zones, beaches, cliffs, dunes, salt marshes, and saline steppes. A significant species is the Iberian pig, with the largest populations found in the central and southern regions.

6

Canary Islands The Canary Islands are part of Spain, located off the northwestern coast of Africa. The seven rugged islands are a group called an archipelago and are known for both white and black sand beaches. Tenerife is the largest island and includes Mt. Teide, an active volcano.

Pyrenees Mountains Canary Islands

Meseta Central

Meseta Central A large plateau in central Spain, the Meseta Central extends over 210,000 square kilometers (81,000 square miles). It is the oldest and most complex geological formation on the Iberian Peninsula, which Spain shares with Portugal.

Several mountain ranges divide and surround the massive plateau.

Pyrenees Mountains The Pyrenees Mountains are in northern Spain and create a natural border between Spain and France.

The mountains run in a west-east direction, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. 7

History 900–700 BCE An extremely diverse variety of people settle in Spain, including Celtics, Phoenicians, Greeks, and Carthaginians. The Greeks name a local river the Iber, and it becomes the basis of the area’s name, Iberia.

218 BCE Romans first annex the Iberian Peninsula as the Province of Hispania during the Second Punic War. Hispania becomes an important part of the Roman Empire.

711–1492 Extended Muslim rule begins.

The kingdom is constantly under threat from Christian rivals who see it as their religious mission to defeat the Muslims, and boundaries change frequently.

1492

Emir Muhammad XII surrenders to the Catholic forces of Queen Isabella I, ending Muslim rule in Spain. Christopher Columbus departs on a voyage attempting to reach the Indies. He reaches the Americas Instead.

8

1500–1600 Spain becomes one of the largest and most dominant world powers, and art, literature, and the sciences flourish. This period is known as the Spanish Renaissance.

1812 Spain’s first constitution, the Constitution of 1812, is introduced. It separates legislative and executive government branches, and dramatically limits royal power.

1936–1975 Under General Francisco Franco’s rule, Spain stays neutral during World War II and maintains cultural and economic isolation from much of the rest of Europe and the world.

1999 Spain switches its national currency from the peseta to the Euro, although the peseta remains in circulation until January 1, 2001.

9

People The Spanish people comprise a diverse ancestry including native inhabitants from the Mediterranean and centuries of rule under the Roman Empire.

Ander has Basque ancestry. His lessons at school are taught in Spanish, but he speaks Basque with his family at home.

Invasions and settlement by northern and southern regions brought Nordic peoples, the Germanic tribe of Visigoths, and north African Moors. Sephardic Jews also originate in Spain.

Castilian Spanish is the country’s official language, but Catalan, Galician, and Basque are the official languages of their communities as well.

10

Spain is predominantly Roman Catholic. Even though few visit church regularly, Catholic rituals mark the life stages of most Spaniards.

Both the dominant Spanish language and legal system are based on the foundations established by the Romans. This also is true of Spain’s majority religion, Roman Catholicism.

Ana’s family practices Roman Catholicism. She is dressed for her first holy communion, an important event in a Catholic family’s life.

11

Names Isabella

Santiago Santiago is a Latin name that refers to Saint James, one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ.

Isabella is a Spanish variation of the Hebrew name Elisheba, meaning “God is my oath.”

Alejandro

Gabriela

Gabriela is a Hebrew name meaning “God is my strength.”

12

Alejandro is a Spanish name of Greek origin. It means “man’s defender.”

e (Male) Nam

Origin

M e aning

Antonio Latin praiseworthy Carlos

Spanish

David

Hebrew beloved

Francisco

Spanish

French man

Jesus

Hebrew

to deliver

Jose

Hebrew

“God increases”

Juan Luis Manuel

Spanish Spanish Spanish

“God is gracious” famous warrior “God is with us”

Miguel

Spanish

“Who is like God?”

e (Female) Nam

free man

Origin

M e aning

Ana

Spanish

gracious, merciful

Alba

Spanish dawn

Carmen

Spanish

garden, vineyard

Cristina

Spanish

follower of Christ

Isabel

Spanish

pledged to God

Josefa

Hebrew

“God increases”

Laura Maria

Latin Latin

laurel tree star of the sea

Marta

Aramaic

lady of the house

Rosa

Latin rose 13

Learn Spanish Castilian Spanish, the official language of Spain, is spoken by about 94 percent of the population. Other languages used include Galician-Portuguese, Basque, Catalan, and Occitan.

Hola

OH-lah (Hello)

Buenos dias

BWEH-noss DEE-uss (Good morning)

Mi nombre es

mee NOHM-breh ehs_____ (My name is ___)

¿Cómo estás?

KOH-moh ehs-tahs (How are you?)

14

Tengo hambre

TEHNG-goh ahm-bre (I’m hungry) Tengo sed

TEHNG-goh sed (I’m thirsty)

Gracias

GRAH-see-ahss (Thank you)

Por favor

pohr fah-vor (Please)

Si

see (Yes)

No

no (No)

Adiós

ah-dee-OHSS (Goodbye) 15

Holidays and Festivals Spain has a rich and dynamic culture, and Spaniards celebrate many holidays and festivals throughout the year. Here are a few:

Día de los Santos Reyes (Three Kings’ Day) This holiday is a Christian feast commemorating the arrival of the Three Kings to visit the infant Jesus in Bethlehem. It marks the end of the Christmas season and the 12 days of Christmas. Celebrations start on the evening of January 5, when the most ancient parade in Spain, the Cabalgata de los Reyes (“Three Kings’ Cavalcade”), is held.

All Saints’ Day This holiday, celebrated on November 1, is a Christian feast celebrated in honor of all saints and martyrs, known and unknown. In the Catholic Church, All Saints’ Day honors those who have attained beatitude with God in heaven. Spaniards attend Mass and visit the graves of their departed loved ones. They bring fresh flowers, candles, personal mementos, and food to the gravesite.

16

Pascua (Easter Sunday) This springtime Christian feast day celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. After church, people gather for festive processions, floats, and parades. Floats are decorated with gold, silver, and white cloth and showered with flowers. Images on the floats relate the Easter story.

Semana Santa (Holy Week) Semana Santa, which starts on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday, is the most significant religious event in Spain. The grief of Good Friday gives way to the joy of Christ’s resurrection, with bands playing triumphant music on the streets, accompanying processions of floats depicting the more glorious moments of Christ’s life.

Constitution Day Celebrated on December 6, this public holiday recognizes the approval of the Spanish constitution.

In 1975, Spain underwent a period called “The Transition,” when the country changed from a dictatorship to a democracy. The Spanish people approved the Constitution in a December 6, 1978, referendum.

17

Food Spanish cuisine is defined as Mediterranean yet includes diverse influences. For several centuries, Spain was part of a back-andforth culinary exchange with North and South America. Fish and seafood are especially common in Spain’s extensive coastal areas. Small snacks called tapas (“tiny rations”) are sometimes eaten between meals. Mixed olives and cheese, anchovies in white wine and vinegar, meatballs, or fried calamari are some examples. Typical seasonings including onions, garlic, and wine, and herbs such as thyme, saffron, and rosemary.

Tortilla de Patata (Potato Omelet) A frittata of fried potatoes and eggs seasoned with onion is a common appetizer or light meal throughout Spain.

Sopa Marinera (Seafood Soup) This fish and seafood soup common in northern Spain is often served as a main course.

18

Gazpacho Gazpacho is a chilled, tomato-based soup with several raw, blended vegetables and is normally served in hot weather.

Paella Valenciana A rice dish with origins in the coastal region of Valencia, paella is now common throughout Spain. It can include chicken or seafood accompanied by vegetables and saffron.

Cordero Asado (Roast Lamb) Roast lamb is a classic Spanish dish, especially common in central and northern Spain.

19

Patatas a lo Pobre Potatoes sautéed with bell peppers and garlic are a common side dish that is often served alongside eggs, cured meats, and roasted or grilled meat.

Arroz con Leche Rice pudding is an everyday dessert in Spain, common in both homes and restaurants. It is usually flavored with cinnamon.

Flan Baked egg custard flavored with caramel is a typical Spanish dessert, well known throughout the Spanish-speaking world.

20

Patatas a lo Pobre Roughly translating to “poor man’s potatoes,” patatas a lo pobre likely get their name from the simple, inexpensive ingredients used in the recipe. The potatoes are sautéed with bell peppers and seasonings, and are a common side dish with ham, chorizo, fried eggs, or grilled meats.

Total Time

25 min

Ingredients 4 potatoes, peeled and sliced 2 green peppers, sliced 1 red pepper, sliced 8 cloves garlic, crushed 1 bay leaf 2 Tbsp (30 ml) olive oil salt

Directions Heat olive oil in a heavy saucepan.

Add potatoes, peppers, and bay leaf and sauté.

As the potatoes begin to soften, add the garlic.

Salt to taste and continue to sauté until potatoes are soft all the way through but not disintegrating.

Serve hot.

21

National Symbols National Bird (unofficial) Short-toed Eagle (common name) Circaetus gallicus (scientific name)

National Day Spain’s National Day October 12

National Flower Carnation (common name) Dianthus caryophyllus (scientific name)

National Animal Bull (common name) Bos taurus (scientific name)

22

National Flag First used – October 5, 1981

National Currency Spain’s official currency is the European Union Euro, or simply, Euro 1 Euro = 100 cents

National Anthem “La Marcha Real” (“The Royal March”)

Spain’s national anthem has no official lyrics.

23

Things to See and Do La Alhambra One of the most popular tourist destinations in Spain, La Alhambra (“Red One”) is an Arabian palace whose name refers to the color of the mountain on which it stands. It is a pristine example of Moorish architecture.

La Sagrada Familia (The Holy Family) Designed by Catalan architect, Antoni Gaudí, La Sagrada Familia is a large Roman Catholic basilica. Gaudí infused the design with Christian symbolism and intended the cathedral to be the greatest icon of Christendom.

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao This contemporary art museum, designed by Canadian architect Frank Gehry, is a classic example of the deconstructivist architectural style. Modeled to resemble a fish, the building holds reflective panels that give the appearance of fish scales.

24

Park Güell This fairytale park, designed by Antoni Gaudí and opened in 1922, is a garden complex that incorporates architectural elements based on religious mysticism, ancient poetry, and motifs of Catalan nationalism.

Madrid Zoo and Aquarium Established in 1770 to show Spaniards the diversity of life in the Americas, the Madrid Zoo and Aquarium arranges more than 500 different species by continent.

The zoo is renowned for its dolphin habitat and aviary.

Tibidabo Amusement Park This is Spain’s longest running amusement park and offers classic rides. The fun begins with the journey to reach the park, located on Tibidabo Mountain. Overlooking Barcelona, the views from the park are impressive.

25

Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici This national park, created in 1955, occupies the heart of the Pyrenees and includes tall mountains, streams and nearly 200 lakes. The park covers an expanse of 40,852 hectares (100,947 acres) and has four vegetation zones.

Plaza Mayor This grand, arcaded central piazza in Madrid was completed in 1790 and covers an area of 1.14 hectares (2.8 acres). There are nine entranceways and a multitude of traditional shops and cafes beneath the porticos of the plaza.

Barcelona Cathedral This Gothic cathedral is dedicated to Saint Eulalia, co-patron saint of Barcelona, and is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Barcelona. it was built in 1298.

Museum of the Americas While acquiring new territory in South America, Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés brought back galley-loads of treasure. This museum features statues, costumes, jewelry, and items from everyday life.

26

Asturias

Cantabria

Basque Country

Galicia Asturias

Navarre La Rioja

Cantabria

Basque Country Castile and León

Galicia

Catalonia Navarre Aragon

La Rioja

Catalonia

Castile and León Aragon

Madrid

Madrid Extremadura

Valencia Castilla la Mancha

Balearic

Valencia Castilla la Mancha

Extremadura

Murcia Andalusia

Balearic Islands

Murcia Andalusia

Ceuta

Ceuta

Location Guide La Alhambra

Tibidabo Amusement Park

La Sagrada Familia

Aigüestortes i Estany de

(The Holy Family)

Sant Maurici National Park

Guggenheim

Plaza Mayor

Museum Bilbao Park Güell

Barcelona Cathedral Museum of the Americas

Madrid Zoo & Aquarium 27

Fun Facts Read On! It is Spanish novelist, playwright, and poet Miguel de Cervantes, who is credited with writing the first modern novel, Don Quixote.

This book is widely considered the most influential work of literature ever published.

Popularized Chocolate It was the Spaniards who first added cane sugar to sweeten bitter cacao beans, which were imported to Spain in the early 1500s from what is now modern-day Mexico. Primarily drank as hot chocolate, sweetening the flavor propelled chocolate to popularity in Spain. In the 1800s, new technology allowed chocolate to take shape as solid bars.

28

Center Point Along with serving as the administrative center of Spain, the city of Madrid is also the geographical center of Spain. A small, inlaid stone located on Puerta del Sol marks kilometer 0, the point from which all distances are measured in Spain.

A Mouse Is the Tooth Fairy A mouse named Ratoncito Pérez is known as the tooth fairy in most Spanish-speaking countries, including Spain. Part of Spanish folklore, Ratoncito Pérez came from a story written by Luis Coloma for young King Alfonso XIII, when he lost a tooth at age 8.

Long Life Spain is among the world’s top 10 countries for life expectancy. Women average 86 years and men 80 years.

Whether this results from the country’s food, which is rich in heart-healthy olive oil, or from all the sun and siestas (afternoon naps) is anyone’s guess.

29

KIDS’ GUIDE TO

Spain Campo de Criptana windmills

Penon del Cuervo Beach

Plaza de España

Plaza del Azoguejo

The Alcala Door

616 E. Eighth Street, Suite 7 | Traverse City, MI 49686 USA T: +1 707.774.7404 | F: +1 707.778.1329 | www.WorldTradePress.com © Copyright 2021 by World Trade Press®. All Rights Reserved.