Cultural differences between the UK and Spain

The UK and Spain vary in many different cultural aspects. Understanding these cultural differences is important to gain a deeper understanding of British culture.

First and foremost, let’s start with the more obvious and recognised cultural differences, including culinary culture and greetings. It seems that the differences between the culinary cultures of the UK and Spain are one aspect in which the two countries greatly differ. Firstly, in the UK, it is customary to have dinner around 6-7 p.m., whereas in Spain, dinner is normally eaten around 9-10 p.m.

Secondly, the food we eat also greatly differs. For example, a typical English breakfast consists of fried eggs, bacon, beans on toast, and hash browns (fried potatoes), this is a largely savoury and filling dish. In comparison, a typical Spanish breakfast is usually lighter, such as toast with tomato/olive oil and a coffee or sometimes even something sweeter, like churros.

Furthermore, the British tend to be more reserved and formal in terms of greeting culture. A handshake is usually the go-to greeting when meeting someone new for the first time in the UK. Of course, this depends on the context of the meeting. For example, a hug would be more appropriate if you meet someone in a nightclub. However, in Spain, the standard greeting is air kisses on the cheek, which is used in most contexts, except maybe in the workplace.

I would argue that these more obvious cultural differences are symbolic of other differences in these two cultures. For example, the culinary differences may reflect the more laid-back lifestyle in Spain, where meals are enjoyed more slowly and socially. Additionally, the differences in greetings, in which the UK tends to prefer formality, may indicate a Spanish tendency towards openness, compared to the UK’s closeness.

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