Culture

Madrid boasts of an active nightlife and is a popular Spanish city. The Madrileños are open-minded and accept tourists dressing casually. Being the capital of Spain, it holds a lot of importance and the people use this to their advantage. A strong cultural influence justifies their passion to speak up when things go wrong. For this reason, very often when a matter requires government intervention, the people take to the streets of Madrid in protest and are vociferous about their opinions.

Otherwise, the Madrileños are perceived as laid back. They start life late at night and stay out till the wee hours and most sleep late. August is a month when most of local community goes on a holiday. Most people shut shop and enjoy a vacation.

Apart from the architectural beauty of this city, their cultural diversity is reflected through their music, performing arts, theater and dance. There are street performers who play music, dance, hold recitals and enact plays with utmost fervor and passion all over the city. Their large hats, preference of colors, vibrancy and energy levels make the city lively place to be in.

All the roads in Madrid lead to the city center, as if designed to allow tourists and locals to walk through the entire city to see and experience its versatility. Flamenco dancing, passionate drama, brilliant actors, one act guitar recitals, explicit dancing gowns, colors, angry bulls and matadors are all engaged in a healthy competition to take center stage when it comes to preserving and maintaining the culture of Madrid.

A. Music

There is a definite influence of the African music community that includes several Equatorial Guinean expatriates, Saharawi musicians from the former Spanish Sahara (currently known as the Western Sahara, occupied by Morocco) and numerous West Africans and Congolese.

You will see that that there are a rising number of Cuban musicians who play hip-hop, rock and traditional songs.

Apart from that, Madrid has a number of Argentine and Brazilian musicians.

In a few cases, entire bands have moved from cities like Havana, Panama and Buenos Aires to the Spanish capital.

Many of these have united with Spanish musicians and other expatriates to form various hybrid forms of Spanish folk music and Flamenco combined with Latin, African and Middle Eastern sounds.

These new hybrids are also known as "música mestiza" or mestizo music.

B. Language

The official language is Spanish and is spoken all over.

Other languages spoken are Catalan, Basque, Gallegan also known as Galician and Gallego

You should not have much of a trouble finding people who speak English in major cities.

C. Religious Practices

Increased level of immigration has highly influenced the various religious practices of Madrid.

D. Major Events

Blood at the Iglesia de la Encarnación

Iglesia de la Encarnación

This event is held once every year in Madrid and brings out an ancient relic containing the blood of a doctor who died offering his services to God in the 4th century AD.

Sunday Bullfights

12 Mar - 15 Oct 2006; Sun only (annual)

Plaza de Toros de las Ventas

Madrid's foremost bullring, Las Ventas, holds a bullfight every week from March until October. They take place on different feast days during the week.

New Year Countdown at La Puerta del Sol

Dec 2006 (annual)

Puerta del Sol

This is the traditional way to ring in the Spanish New Year in Madrid. Citizens assemble near the Puerta del Sol and have a grape for each one of the 12 chimes leading up to the stroke of midnight.

Twelfth Night Children's Parade

Jan 2007 (annual)

El Retiro parque- Plaza Mayor

This is a well-liked cultural tradition in Spain. This is the day of the Three Kings (Reyes Magos) and the event is celebrated differently in each town and city.

Madrid Carnival

Feb - Mar 2007 (annual)

Madrid

Autumn Festival

Madrid becomes an ideal place to stay for cultural aficionados in autumn when you can see more than 50 dance, theatre and musical groups from countries throughout Europe. You will also find visitors from the Middle East and America involving themselves in opera, ballet, dance, music and theatre at about 40 venues all through Madrid.

E. Ettiquette / Do's and Don'ts

Do's

- Use First names only if you are well acquainted with the other person.

- When referring to others, you need to follow Spanish business protocol by using the formal Usted mode of address unless you are invited to use the more informal tu.

- Men who are university graduates, businessmen or any other professionals frequently use the courtesy title Don to indicate respect while addressing each other.

- As much as possible address people using their professional titles and tag along their surnames.

- You need to keep in mind that Spaniards dress more conservatively than Americans and very frequently wear designer clothes.

- You need to stick with quality, as brand name will be observed.

- Women need to dress with grace and style. The best clothing options include designer suits or business dresses that are particularly made of high-quality fabrics.

- Do present gifts at the beginning or conclusion of successful negotiations.

- Open a gift as soon as you receive it in front of the giver.

- Gifts of any kind should be quality, brand name items that are attractively wrapped.

- The gift you are planning to give someone should advertise the company name only if it is a fine pen or tasteful desk accessory.

- Present people with local crafts, illustrated books, tapes, and CDs related to your home region as they are often appreciated as gifts.

- Bring chocolates, dessert items such as pastries, or flowers when invited to a Spanish home for lunch or dinner.

Don'ts

- As Bullfighting is a revered art form in Spain and it is better if you avoid criticizing any thing related to it.

- Talk or discuss religion and war.

- Highlight your professional knowledge and understanding during conversation.

- Make personal inquiries, particularly during first introductions.

- Anticipate talking about business at the start of any meeting.

- Wear shorts or very low skirts, as they are generally not acceptable in public.

- Insult the Spanish personal pride because it means everything in this culture.

- Present something too extravagant as your kindness may be professed as a bribe.

- Give dahlias or chrysanthemums while offering flowers, as they are associated with death.

- Give 13 flowers as it is always considered to be bad luck.