Fun facts about Spain

1. Not all Spaniards are native speakers of (Castilian) Spanish.
2. The Spaniards have a completely different life rhythm from other Europeans.
3. Flamenco is not actually a dance, it's a musical style, which sometimes has dancing in it.
4. 58 million tourists go to Spain every year, making it the fourth most visited country in the world.
5. Spain is renowned for its lively festivals, including San Fermin (running of the bulls).
6. More than 150,000 tomatoes are usually thrown at La Tomatina.
7. The official name of Spain is Kingdom of Spain.
8. The national anthem of Spain has no words.
9. Football is the most popular sport in Spain.
10. 43% of the world's olive oil production is done in Spain.
11. The Spanish name for Spain is Espana.
12. Spain won its first World Cup football title in 2010, which made the country the 8th country to have ever won.
13. The tooth fairy is a mere rodent in Spain, referred to as Ratoncito Perez.
14. Breaks, free time, and siestas are a huge part of everyday Spanish culture.
15. The Spanish language is spoken in many parts of the world due to the early influence of the Spanish empire.
16. Traditionally, you have two surnames in Spain, the first surname from your father, and the second from your mother.
17. Spaniards celebrate the New Year by eating one grape with their family for each bell strike of the clock.
18. The quill pen is thought to have originated in Spain about 1,400 years ago.
19. There are fewer marriages in Spain than in any other EU country, except Sweden.
20. The divorce rate in Spain is 17% (relatively low compared to over 50% in the USA).
21. The currency used in Spain is the Euro.
22. The Pyrenees is a mountain range that divides Spain and France.
23. Most households buy fresh bread every day. Traditionally, they are long baguettes called barras or pistolas.
24. Tomatoes, potatoes, avocados, tobacco, and cacao (for chocolate) were all imported into Europe by Spain.
25. Though Spain is more famous for its red wine than white, the majority of its vineyards have grapes that produce white wine.
26. Spain is one of the world's biggest producers of saffron, an important ingredient in paella.
27. The Madrid subway is the second largest underground system in Europe and the sixth largest system in the world.
28. Owning one's home is very important to Spanish people, and some 80% of Spanish households do.
29. The majority of Spaniards are formally Roman Catholic, although different religious beliefs are accepted.
30. People are often referred to as Don or Dona and their first name within formal occasions.