The Everlasting Sales

Like many other countries, once Christmas is over it follows a period of sales where department stores try to get those last savings you heroically managed not to spend on Christmas. Well, this sales period (called Rebajas) is especially relevant in Spain for several reasons:
As you know from our last entry, in Spain Christmas is officially over after the Epiphany on January 6th. That marks the start of Rebajas. But there's something even more important for the start of Rebajas than this particular date, and that would be when does El Corte Inglés decide to start it.

El Corte Inglés is, by a fair margin, the biggest department store chain in Spain. It is so big that they are the ones to set the starting time of the sales period. Then the other shops and department stores get benefited from the big marketing campaign launched by this company. Usually, every 7th of January there will be very long queues on every Corte Inglés in the country before they open their doors. These people queuing will anxiously run straight to the clothing section in search for the biggest bargain of the day. 

Another measure to point how relevant this period is that you only have to look at the average spending during this time. This year, the Spaniards will spend an average of 80€ on clothes during this period. This is 33% less than last year, due to the economic crisis. If that number did not impress you, bear in mind that, today, almost 26% of the active population in Spain is unemployed, so the effort these people have to make in order for this number to be this big is impressive, to say the least.

Oh, and by the way, if you are in Spain or planning to go soon, remember that they have one of the cheapest clothes pricings in Europe (partially due to Inditex headquarters being lcoated in Spain) and their sales end on February 28th! So you may want to schedule a quick trip to gear up for the rest of the year.

Things to do in Spain in September

Once the holiday–makers have gone back home and the heat of the summer is more bearable, September is a great month to travel to Spain. It is still warm and you have more chances to interact with the locals and discover the real Spain and its culture. If you have the opportunity to take your holidays when everyone is coming back to work, there are few things to choose from in Spain.

Religious celebration

Religious events are of course important in Spain, one of the oldest one being the Fiestas Patronales de La Virgen de Gracia, on the 8^th. These celebrations have taken place for more than 400 years in Albacete in honour of the local Virgin. Expect procession and flower offering to the Virgin, but also fireworks, music and gunpowder!

Wine festival

The Rioja is certainly one of the most known Spanish products and it has its own festival, held around the third week-end of September on the day of San Mateo. In fact, this wine has a very important place in the Spanish culture and its harvesting is celebrated in Logrono, the capital of the Rioja region.

If you need a little help with the language before going to Spain in September, try this.

Made in Spain

Spain is known for great food, beautiful beaches and amazing football.  What many people don’t know about the Mediterranean country is that the Spanish have invented many everyday objects. Just to name a few:

The submarine

Isaac Peral designed the very first submarine in 1887. The military officer never received credits for his design that included an electric motor, a periscope and a torpedo because his superiors dismissed the idea.

The digital calculator

Leonardo Torres Quevedo is responsible for the joy of the digital calculator, the remote control and cable carts.

The radio

The radio was invented by Julio Cervera Baviera who also founded the Spanish Wireless Telegraph and Telephone Corporation in 1902.

The space suit

The first person to ever design an astronaut suit was Emilio Herrea Lineras.

The pencil sharpener

Ignacio Urresti designed and created the first pencil sharpener in 1945.

The classical guitar

Although there is no specific person who invented the guitar, it is believed the Spanish started playing it in the early 13^th and 14^th century. The music instrument gained popularity after the 17^th century when the 6^th string was introduced to the formerly 4 string instrument. 

The cigarette

Beggars in Seville made roll ups from discarded tobacco and rice paper in the sixteenth century. They later on sold them to sailors and ship merchants. These customers brought the method home and the cigarette gained immediate popularity all over the world.

The disposable injection needle

Miguel Jalon invented the mop as well as the disposable injection needle.

The laryngoscoop

A laryngoscoop is a medical instrument used to examine the larynx.

The well-known opera singer, Manuel Vicente Garcia invented the instrument when he was studying the anatomy of the larynx. The instrument was introduced to the medical world by Johan Czermak.

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