Did you know that people in Spain, on average, live 83 years? Although many factors contribute to this, such as diet and exercise, I’ve learned that community involvement matters, too. For example, my host family goes out to spend time with friends every Wednesday and Saturday night. When people are in a community, they tend to feel significantly happier and often expect to live longer. This weekend, I traveled to Zaragoza, Spain, and experienced firsthand how the community comes together through an E.D.M. (Electronic Dance Music) Festival.
The tradition I learned about is the annual E.D.M. festival held in Zaragoza, Spain. The festival took place in front of the Basilica de Nuestra Señora Pilar (Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar), which is a Latin basilica that the people of Zaragoza hold dearly in their hearts. Although E.D.M. is growing quickly in Europe, it actually originated in the United States! It’s fascinating to see how American culture is helping Spanish people feel closer to each other. Since the basilica is a source of cultural pride for the city, that makes it a perfect spot for everyone to come together and have a great time.