Answer:
Each municipality in Spain is allowed a maximum of 14 public holidays per year. In addition to national holidays, of which there are 9, many of Spain’s 17 regions celebrate their own public holidays too. In England, there are 8 public holidays, although an exception was made in 2011 for the Royal Wedding between Prince William and Catherine Middleton when an extra public holiday was created.
In Spain, Christmas Day isn’t the main event. It’s all about Christmas Eve – “La Noche Buena” – which involves a huge feast and much merriment. Gift-giving happens in January, while December 25th is all about eating your bodyweight in fabulous cuisine. In England, Christmas Day is the main celebration when gifts are exchanged, and the day is spent with family, eating roast turkey, and drinking together. It’s also tradition to pause at 3.00 pm to watch the televised Queen’s Speech.
The siesta is a famous part of Spanish culture and one that’s often admired by the British! It’s a short early afternoon nap, usually taken after lunch and before returning to work. The tradition doesn’t exist in England, partly due to the shorter nature of lunches, but also because the temperatures are typically cooler. Siestas are more common in warm weather countries.
Shaking hands is expected across both genders, and once a relationship is established, it is normal for men to embrace or pat each other on the shoulder, while female friends may kiss each other on each cheek. In England, handshakes are common although kisses (usually once on the cheek) and hugs are usually reserved between very good friends.
