The reason they have this time during the day is because they believe that with a break in the middle of the day, people will be more productive in their work. Some schools have a siesta break, but not all of them. For example, my school does not and we end school at 2:30 every day. However, a friend in another part of Spain does have a siesta break, and she leaves school at 1:30 and comes back again and works from 3:30 to 5:30. A lot of working people in Spain do not get home from work until around 8:00 at night (dinner is usually around 9:00) because they have the siesta break. Like I said, it depends on the job you have. Some stores close midday for siesta, and others don´t.
Another small tradition that I learned about was a birthday cake custom. This one really confused me. In the United States people get you a cake and sing to you. However, in Spain that does not happen. Yes, people sing and give you presents, but YOU have to bring your own cake. I was working on my birthday in January and I brought in cookies to share with my co-teachers. Here, they think that you are celebrating your day with everyone else, not that everyone else is celebrating your day for you. I am so glad someone told me about this tradition because if not I would have looked ridiculous.
The big tradition I wanted to share with you is Christmas time. I am so used to Christmas being all about Santa, but that is not how it is celebrated in Spain. In Spain they celebrate a holiday called El día de los reyes magos (Three Kings Day or Wisemen Day). This day celebrates the three kings that gave gifts to the newborn baby Jesus. This holiday is held on January 6th. The children leave out their shoes by their bed for the kings to put presents in.
