[tomspoumn]

If internet forums are to be believed, you would think the Spanish and the British hated each other, but I believe that they are very alike.

Both are constitutional monarchies with the monarch as the Head of State, and in the two countries both monarchs are fairly popular with the people and there are no real moves to despose of the monarchy.

Both nations had very expansive empires that were the envy of other nations, the Spanish and British empires even had the same slogan "The sun never sets on the Spanish/British empire".

Both countries are very similar in the sense while Castillian in Spain and English in the UK are the national and main languages, there are also several minor ethnic groups within both countries. For example, in the UK this is Wales, Scotland, Cornwall and Northern Ireland. While in Spain it is Basque country, Catalonia, Valencia (although you could call them Catalans too) and Galacia.

In this sense the concept of "The Kingdom of Spain" is very similar to the concept of the "United Kingdom". This is that both Spain and the UK aren't homogenous countries in the traditional sense, but a union of several countries that make up the land area of these two present day nations.

Also, politically they are quite similar too. The PSOE in Spain has a similar position to the British Labour party, whereas the Partido Popular has a similar position to the British Conservative party. Then in the regions like the Basque country and Catalonia they vote for minority interest parties, much in the same way Welsh and Scottish people vote for minority interest parties like Plaid Cymru and the SNP.
The PP finds its main electoriate in the richer North, whereas the PSOE finds its electoriate largely in the South, and in a few regions of Catalonia and Basque country, sort of like how the British Labour Party is also popular in Wales and Scotland.

Also, it is said that the majority of the gene pool of the UK is similar to that in Spain and Portugal, particularly Northern Spain and the Basque country. On average there is about a 70-80% similarity in England, and up to 98% in North Wales. Perhaps all the British people that move to Southern Spain are merely following their genetic urge to return to their homeland?

The British and Spanish also have a very similar sense of humour. I feel the British are far more like the Spanish than they are the Dutch or Germans. While people might think the UK would be more like North West Europe, I don't think British culture is particularly Germanic, and British genes are only 30% North West European.

[SpeavaJap]

I don't think so.

[Worseacar]

Well, British are colder than Spaniards.

Politically. the current Spanish president is from the PSOE (José RodrÃ*quez), while the Prime Minister of the UK (David Cameron) is conservative...

Under Franco's dictatorship, all the regionalisms were prohibited. Now the PP is Spanish nationalist, while the leftist PSOE allows regionalisms (not extremely, of course). The Basques voted for the PNV for many years, but they don't anymore, since the PSOE and the PP got allied. I don't know about how much votes the Plaid Cymru and the SNP get...

[pirinosa]

Um...how can people be described as being "colder"? What the feck is that supposed to mean? Ever hear of fiery Celtic wrath?

---------- Post added 2010-09-26 at 20:56 ----------

Anyway, I think it is absurd to find similarities, both countries are at polar opposites really.

[Indian Butt Magic]

Politically. the current Spanish president is from the PSOE (José RodrÃ*quez), while the Prime Minister of the UK (David Cameron) is conservative...

This is meaningless, while the UK had a centre-left wing government, the Labour Party, Spain had a PP government with José MarÃ*a Aznar from 1996 to 2004, during this period the UK had a socialist government. So you are talking rubbish really.

[herawaq]

Anyway, I think it is absurd to find similarities, both countries are at polar opposites really.

There are clearly similarities. The UK has far more similarities with Spain than it does with Germany, Netherlands or Sweden. Both genetically, politically and in the make up of the nation.

I don't think they are that similar culturally, but then again no country with a different language is that similar. Even Spain and Portugal are rather different.

[HornyMolly]

There are clearly similarities. The UK has far more similarities with Spain than it does with Germany, Netherlands or Sweden. Both genetically, politically and in the make up of the nation.

I don't think they are that similar culturally, but then again no country with a different language is that similar. Even Spain and Portugal are rather different.

I might agree with you in that way DogHouse. When i travel all around germany/holland/flanders and denmark then i flock in the UK i dont feel im in a germanic country anymore.. people behave somewhat different and look different aswell. The society just works in different way than the germanic nations. They also seem to be more agressive in general.

[gIWnXYkw]

I do not think Brits are cold at all. In many senses they are warmer and much more talkative than the average Spaniard (except for maybe the Andalusias) I also think that the sense of Irony and black humour is very similar in both countries, and it is way easier for a Spaniard to understand the English humour than for lets say, Poles, Indians or Americans.

If I do live here is because this is the country that I feel more comfortable with (outside my own). We also have endemic corruption and nepotism and a disdain for religion,probably in bigger doses since we are a few decades backwards in terms of democracy .

UK has advantage over Spaniards in that sense since they didn't suffer 40 years of fascism , so during the 50's , 60's and 70's they had a cultural and democratic boom that didn't reach Spain until the late 70's and 80's. Spain since has tried to catch up quickly, and it some senses it has managed to do it in a surprising pace... but in many cases , this rush has meant precipitation and many things have been done in a very unpropper way.

Also Brits are much more politticaly correct than spaniards and we have a very different approach to what means to be polite (both of us consider the other rude, and unwilling to find the middle point)

Brits and Spaniards are the same?? no way... but we're certainly closer than most people would expect. After all, from all med countries, Spain is the only one with a million brittish expats,and several million of holliday goers... and britain is also traditionally one of the favourite spots for Spaniards to relocate and also for holidays , backpackers or student exchanges (despite our mutual ineptitude when it comes to speak each other's languages)

[hitaEtela]

I think many people will be dissapointed if they travel to Spain and try to find very warm people. I´ve never had the impression that people around here were more friendly than other europeans really. Shit, just try to drive in Madrid and tell me how sweet the other drivers are

[DumErrory]

The British and Spanish also have a very similar sense of humour.

British humor is dry; Spanish humor is not. I've seen Spanish comedians on television and I never laughed. Their humor is more like telling a joke. British comedians are a different story. It's more like a story with funny insights here and there.

[Imagimifouxum]

I think many people will be dissapointed if they travel to Spain and try to find very warm people. I´ve never had the impression that people around here were more friendly than other europeans really. Shit, just try to drive in Madrid and tell me how sweet the other drivers are

people tend to confuse being loud and noisy with being warmer and friendly.

[Aniplinipsync]

I think many people will be dissapointed if they travel to Spain and try to find very warm people. I´ve never had the impression that people around here were more friendly than other europeans really. Shit, just try to drive in Madrid and tell me how sweet the other drivers are

My impression is that Galicians are indifferent to everyone around them.

[Ganoshenko]

Your whole list is like:

"The British enjoy drinking a pint of lager after work, so do Germans."

It doesn't make sense at all.

[gymnAnemoe]

Your whole list is like:

"The British enjoy drinking a pint of lager after work, so do Germans."

It doesn't make sense at all.

I didn't mention anything cultural other than the humour thing. So it is you that is not making any sense.