https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Low wages, chronically high unemployment and rising prices never seem to prevent Spaniards from enjoying drinks and meals out with friends and family. New data illustrates how much importance Spaniards give to these eating rituals. https://www.thelocal.es/20260325/152-times-a-year-the-stats-that-show-spaniards-love-for-eating-out Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:21:14 +0100 152-times-a-year-the-stats-that-show-spaniards-love-for-eating-out Spain is a fantastic country to bring up kids thanks to the weather, the safety and Spaniards' overall love of children, but that doesn't mean there aren't aspects of Spanish child-rearing that surprise foreigners. https://www.thelocal.es/20240919/the-strange-things-spanish-parents-do-raising-their-children Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:02:03 +0200 the-strange-things-spanish-parents-do-raising-their-children Spaniards often deal with stereotypes from abroad which paint them as just party-loving and lazy, but even among the inhabitants of the country’s 17 regions there are clichés that live on to this day. https://www.thelocal.es/20241012/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-what-are-the-regional-stereotypes-across-spain Sat, 12 Oct 2024 11:25:24 +0200 the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-what-are-the-regional-stereotypes-across-spain To mark Groundhog Day in the US and Canada, a folklore tradition which in popular culture has come to represent a lack of change over time (thanks to the classic US movie of the same name), we take a look at ten things that never seem to change in Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20220202/groundhog-day-ten-things-that-never-change-in-spain Wed, 02 Feb 2022 19:49:52 +0100 groundhog-day-ten-things-that-never-change-in-spain A new study has revealed that although English levels in Spain are improving, they're still lagging behind neighbouring countries. https://www.thelocal.es/20260116/anxious-about-speaking-what-experts-say-spaniards-needs-to-improve-in-english Fri, 16 Jan 2026 11:59:47 +0100 anxious-about-speaking-what-experts-say-spaniards-needs-to-improve-in-english From what to wear to what to order, we've got the tips to help you blend in like a local as the mercury drops across Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20210107/eight-ways-to-tackle-winter-like-a-spaniard Thu, 07 Jan 2021 15:59:24 +0100 eight-ways-to-tackle-winter-like-a-spaniard This word defines a whole new philosophy for how Spaniards like to spend their time. https://www.thelocal.es/20251203/spanish-word-of-the-day-tardeo Wed, 03 Dec 2025 11:54:40 +0100 spanish-word-of-the-day-tardeo One of the traditions that foreigners in Spain don’t get is why the birthday boy or girl is expected to pay for friends' meals and drinks when they go out to celebrate. What's the protocol for this habit? https://www.thelocal.es/20220825/why-does-the-birthday-person-pay-for-everyones-food-and-drinks-in-spain Thu, 25 Aug 2022 15:37:48 +0200 why-does-the-birthday-person-pay-for-everyones-food-and-drinks-in-spain Foreigners, including Spanish speakers from Latin America, often find it surprising how loudly Spaniards tend to speak. So is there a reason for this or is it just a stereotype? https://www.thelocal.es/20230802/why-are-spaniards-so-loud Wed, 02 Aug 2023 14:30:23 +0200 why-are-spaniards-so-loud You may be familiar with the basic way Spaniards say ‘cheers’, but there are other Spanish expressions and habits associated with clinking glasses and making a toast that you’ll be happy to learn. https://www.thelocal.es/20241007/salud-the-different-ways-to-say-cheers-in-spanish Mon, 07 Oct 2024 18:23:22 +0200 salud-the-different-ways-to-say-cheers-in-spanish What makes Spain and Spaniards tick? These unwritten rules will help you understand some of the traits of the national psyche, from the Spanish attitude to work to what Spaniards prioritise in life. https://www.thelocal.es/20221011/nine-unwritten-rules-that-explain-how-spain-works Tue, 11 Oct 2022 12:35:19 +0200 nine-unwritten-rules-that-explain-how-spain-works If you've moved to Spain, chances are you have picked up some Spanish habits. How many of these do you do? https://www.thelocal.es/20190405/the-quirky-spanish-habits-youll-pick-up-living-in-spain Fri, 05 Apr 2019 13:11:07 +0200 the-quirky-spanish-habits-youll-pick-up-living-in-spain "There's nothing more Spanish than arriving 20 minutes late and for nobody to have arrived yet", is a stereotype many people (including Spaniards) would agree is true. https://www.thelocal.es/20251001/why-are-spaniards-always-late Wed, 01 Oct 2025 18:49:55 +0200 why-are-spaniards-always-late Catalans have a reputation throughout Spain for being tight-fisted and miserly, particularly when it comes to money. Is there any truth to this stereotype and how did it come about? https://www.thelocal.es/20210429/why-do-catalans-have-a-reputation-for-being-stingy Thu, 29 Apr 2021 19:46:19 +0200 why-do-catalans-have-a-reputation-for-being-stingy How can you tell Spain's regional accents apart? Where do they drop the ‘s’? And is there a 'best' and 'worst' accent? This detailed guide tells you all you need to know about the accents which people have across Spain’s regions. https://www.thelocal.es/20230803/a-handy-guide-to-understanding-spains-regional-accents Thu, 03 Aug 2023 17:44:55 +0200 a-handy-guide-to-understanding-spains-regional-accents If there’s one thing that Brits, Irish, Aussies and other tea-drinking foreigners find frustrating about Spain, it’s the absence of kettles for their morning ‘cuppa’. Esme Fox explores why the Spanish don't really care for kettles. https://www.thelocal.es/20240823/why-dont-spaniards-use-kettles Fri, 23 Aug 2024 13:02:36 +0200 why-dont-spaniards-use-kettles One of the most common stereotypes in Spain is that people from the capital think they’re better than everybody else. https://www.thelocal.es/20240827/why-do-people-from-madrid-have-a-reputation-for-being-arrogant Tue, 27 Aug 2024 18:45:06 +0200 why-do-people-from-madrid-have-a-reputation-for-being-arrogant New survey data has lifted the lid on Spanish public opinion, with some surprising (and not so surprising) results on issues ranging from Trump and Ukraine to Nato and Gaza. https://www.thelocal.es/20250710/spaniards-increasingly-prefer-china-to-the-us-polling-shows Thu, 10 Jul 2025 11:38:33 +0200 spaniards-increasingly-prefer-china-to-the-us-polling-shows Summer is most definitely upon us here in Spain. In order to survive the season, do as the locals do and adopt these habits. https://www.thelocal.es/20250702/the-spanish-summer-habits-all-foreigners-should-adopt Wed, 02 Jul 2025 13:47:37 +0200 the-spanish-summer-habits-all-foreigners-should-adopt If you've ever had the impression that Spaniards always seem to find the time and money to go to bars and restaurants, new data now seems to confirm this. https://www.thelocal.es/20250605/tough-times-dont-stop-spaniards-from-eating-and-drinking-out Thu, 05 Jun 2025 12:39:02 +0200 tough-times-dont-stop-spaniards-from-eating-and-drinking-out