The Spanish lucky charm: beach, heat, but not only that
Like many European countries, Spain's history is thousands of years old. Wars, conquests, apogee then decline: the Spanish people experienced an epic worthy of the greatest. With a parallel evolution, the Spanish lucky charm tells us all this.
From the domination of the Iberians to the Arab invasions, including the Roman occupation: the first centuries of Spanish history were tumultuous. In the Middle Ages, ethnic and cultural diversity made it one of the centers of Europe. Cuisine, music, architecture and good luck charms: the Hispanic peninsula shines with the mixture of Christian and Muslim influences with the emergence of cities like Córdoba and Seville.
However, it was thanks to the influence of the Catholic Church that Spain achieved its greatness. It was thanks to a severe inquisition and practicing Catholicism that the Iberian nation experienced its golden age.
Within a few years, the gigantic Spanish empire extended from Colombia to the Philippines. Charles V's contemporaries spoke of "the empire where the Sun never sets". This says a lot about Spain's reputation at the time...
With so many contrasting influences, telling everything about Spain would take hours. And yet, this rich, intriguing and sunny story, each Spanish lucky charm manages to offer us a glimpse of it.
Indalo, with the roots of Iberia
The indalo is an ancient Spanish lucky charm resembling a man surmounted by a semicircle.
Found in caves in the Almería region around a century ago, this symbol actually dates back to five thousand years BC.
To be precise, it would be Neolithic men who began decorating the walls of their caves throughout southern Spain.
The indalo is therefore a very ancient symbol… but also very mystical!
It is difficult to establish truths because it is so ancient, but it seems that this motif was linked to certain forms of magic, shamanism and witchcraft specific to primitive peoples of the past.
Some historians even say of this Spanish lucky charm that it represents an ancient divinity, and that the curve above the man is in fact a rainbow, symbol of a sort of pact with the sky.
In short, one thing is certain: indalo has today conquered the hearts of all the inhabitants of Almería (and even those of the whole of Spain in fact).
First used as a simple good luck charm, artists and intellectuals gradually adopted it until it became a unanimously recognized symbol.
The bull, emblematic Spanish animal
Bulls have always embodied what is most powerful and masculine in the animal kingdom. They symbolize strength, power and the ability to impose one's physical presence.
In traditional societies, this animal is often associated with perseverance, (masculine) fertility and power.
Fighting such an animal is therefore undoubtedly a great mark of bravery: this is precisely what bullfighting consists of.
We couldn't not talk about Spanish lucky charms without talking about this tradition!
Basically, bullfighting pits man against bull or fights in an arena, all in a display of style, technique and courage.
Bullfighting is in fact a very old tradition which also dates back to gladiator fights from the time when Spain was occupied by the Romans.
This custom with very deep roots left a lasting mark on Spanish society... as well as some of its artists.
The fight between the bull and the bullfighter is, for example, a very present subject in the work of the painter Picasso.
A little less “cultural”, the Osborne bull is an enormous silhouette of a bovine almost fourteen meters high enthroned at the top of a hill not far from Seville.
Designed by an alcohol company wishing to advertise its products, this gigantic statue is today one of the best-known symbols of Spain.
Dance, music and culture in Spain
It is often said that art and culture in Spain is a grand mosaic representing the many traditions that have come and gone throughout Spain's long and colorful history, and this is not untrue.
If there is one dance that represents this, it is flamenco.
An expression of Spanish passion and enthusiasm, this art form was strongly influenced by gypsy culture (the famous “gitano” of Spain) who also created particular music to accompany the performances.
As you can imagine, there are many Spanish lucky charms that derive from this folklore.
Speaking of music, Celtic customs from the north of the country (mainly Galicia and Asturias) gave birth to certain styles unique in the world.
Throughout the medieval period, religious music predominated in the country, ranging from hymns to the famous Gregorian chants.
Later, Spanish music was marked by the importance of operas. The famous Spanish boleros and zarzuelas are undoubtedly the best examples.
This little guide shows us well: Spanish culture is incredibly rich.
