There really is only one month for Spaniards that they consider for holidays: August. It is the hottest, driest month of the year and therefore the time of the year to slow down and take things a little bit easier than in the other months. Often as a result of their work closing down for the month, Spaniards tend to take the whole of the month off rather than just a couple of weeks.  This causes a mass migration from the bigger cities on the same day of the year and simply referred to as “la salida” by the press. Where does everybody go?

Sure, a large percentage goes to the coast (la costa) to join the millions of tourists who have already set up camp there. But a surprising big group goes to the country side (el campo) or to the mountains (las montañas) to look for cooler air. One upside of this plan is that tourists are a lot thinner on the ground the farther you move from the beach side.

One other important factor that influences the holiday pattern in Spain has to do with history. In the 20th century, Spain witnessed large migrations of workers often from the poorer South to the big cities and these family roots still count today. It is not unusual to see families drive for days to visit relatives in the south and return after a month with their car stuffed with local delicacies and family memories.

Family ties are very important in Spanish culture and it is more common than not that large families with adult children, their partners and children go to the same destination for generations, meeting the same families that have been going there as well for as long as they remember and establish this way their alternative -and pleasant- community during the month of August.

Not everyone of course goes with their family on holiday in Spain; travelling abroad has become more popular for young Spaniards in the last decades but overall, the traditional family holiday in Spain still is the cultural standard.

Food plays a very important part in Spanish culture and during their holidays as the glue of social ties when everyone sits around the table savouring the cooking of the local restaurant or family chef whilst enjoying a nice glass of wine. When you ask a Spanish friend about their holiday, often the first thing you hear is “hemos comido mucho“…we ate a lot.

And what a great way it is to go on holiday with your family and friends, sit around the table, eat, laugh and talk, do a little sunbathing but nothing too strenuous for a whole month. August is about to start…look out for Spaniards having a great time!