Be happy, you're in Spain ... It means for us German Spain. But that is not is not entirely correct. The official name of Spain is Reino de España - translated: Kingdom of Spain.
The official motto of the coat of arms and also on the flag is to be found is: "Plus Ultra" which means "beyond" or "ever". This award has its importance in the history of the country. When Spain's leading colonial powers of this world was one that was the motto of the expedition in search of new countries for the crown of Spain. This award is derived from the Latin motto: "Non Plus Ultra" which is well known, states: "Until here and no further".
Spain is a merger of several kingdoms. For this reason, in Spain there are also regional differences in languages and cultural backgrounds. Since the end of the Franco dictatorship, Spain is a parliamentary hereditary monarchy.
The flag of Spain
As each state has also Spain's flag and its coat of arms. It is the color and design of the flag are very close to the political and historical circumstances of the country. Each epoch has its influence on the design of the flag had the partly still visible.
The flag in its present form was adopted on 19 December 1981 as the national flag of the country officially introduced and used. The flag consists of three horizontal bands of red-yellow-red, giving the middle yellow stripe is twice as wide as the two red. The crest is located entirely within the yellow stripe.
The flag during the Franco era
At the time of the Franco regime (1936-1975) in 1938 to the old color scheme, red-yellow-red back. During the Civil War was the use of the flag among the older nationalists prevailed. We used in this district is not without reason deliberately the colors, the flag of the Second Spanish Republic abwichen.
1945, finally approved the new flag law, which the details of the coat of arms on the red-yellow-red flag regulated. The national coat of arms was held by an eagle. To his left and right saw yoke and arrow set and stylized pillars of Hercules, which in the unofficial Army Flags From 1940 already had appeared. The slogan was "VNA GRANDE LIBRE" (Some major outdoor).
The flag was named after Franco's death in 1977 and modified with the transition of Spain to the 1981 constitutional monarchy abolished. Since, the current national flag as authentic.
Official language of Spain is Spanish (español) which is also known as Castilian (castellano) is designated. Spanish is regarded as a world language. It is one of the Romance languages of the Indo offshoots. It will use the Latin alphabet.
The Spanish language is spread all over the world. In many Latin American countries is Spanish spoken. But even in the U.S. and other countries, a large number of people with a native Spanish-speaking backgrounds.
Other regional languages also have their importance. They are: regional official: Aranesisch, Basque, Galician, Catalan.
Since the Spanish language usage of the central Spanish region of Castile was coined, and the language of the other spoken in Spain romanic idioms (mainly Galician and Catalan) as well as the nationality designation "Spanish" meaning, there is often also called castellano (Castilian language ").
In modern Spanish, the acute accent on vowels and the two characters ñ and ü are used. In many dictionaries, there are also the ch and ll as separate letters.
Origin of Spanish Language
The Spanish language has historically developed. The origins lie in the same way as Italian, French and Portuguese in Latin. The Spanish / Castilian evolved from a border area between Cantabria, Burgos, Alava and La Rioja Latin dialect spoken language for people of Castile. Hence the name castellano (Castilian), based on the geographical origin of language.
The other name, español (Spanish) comes from the medieval Latin name Hispaniolus from, or by Spaniolus. Historical and socio-economic developments and its widespread use as a common language made Castilian the lingua franca, throughout the Iberian Peninsula along with other languages spoken there.
It is estimated that in the middle of the 16th Century, some 80% of Spaniards Castillan said. Through the conquest of America, the private possession of the Castilian crown was to spread the Spanish language all over the continent, from California to Tierra del Fuego.
In general, castellano (Castilian) and español (Spanish) synonymous terms. Dealing Linguistically, the names in Spain but regionally very different uses. Especially in the bilingual areas, the designation castellano predominantly, and sometimes very deliberately used the language of the nationality designation "Spanish", and, so to show that Spain is a multilingual country, and today the dominant language initially only a regional language was (of Castile).
This fact often falsely led to believe that only those parts of the population use the term castellano. The name castellano is, however, even in parts of Spain are not multilingual (eg Andalusia) used, and depending on the region español castellano or the common name, usually with no political background. In the Spanish Constitution in 1978, regarding the language very deliberately used the following wording:
"Art 3. (1) Castilian is the official state language. All Spaniards have the duty to know and the right to use it. "
Madrid - the capital of Spain
The capital of Spain is Madrid. It is also the economic and political center of the Autonomous Community of Madrid.
In the region live about six million people. This is one of Madrid is one of the largest cities in Europe. The third largest city in the European Union. Madrid is both nationally and internationally significant commercial and financial center. The city is the geographic, political and cultural center of Spain.
In Madrid is the seat of the Spanish government. In addition, resident of King and a Catholic archbishop in Madrid. The city also hosts various administrations and other agencies. Madrid is also the seat of universities and colleges.
The inhabitants of Madrid are "Madrid", in Spanish Madrileños called. It is said also by the Madrid, that they speak the best Spanish.
Madrid is located in the center of Spain 667 m above sea level. NN. The small river Manzanares flown through the city belongs to the historic landscape of Castile. Northwest of the town rise the mountains of the Sierra de Guadarrama, in the Peñalara 2,429 m tall.
East opens the valley of the Henares, in the iron and highways to Saragossa and Barcelona lost. About 50 miles south, on the Tagus, is Madrid's "mother city", the ancient Castilian capital of Toledo.
Because of its altitude and continental climate, the summer in Madrid, hotter and drier, the winter is much colder than in the cities along the Mediterranean Sea. The average temperature in January is about 4.9 ° C in July at about 24.2 ° C. It is usually quite dry.
Spain - a parliamentary monarchy
The king, as head of state is a symbol of unity and resistance in Spain. He is especially a role as the guardian and presenter of the constitutional duties by state organs. In exercising this role, succeeded King Juan Carlos I, the coup of 23 February 1981 by the mere authority of his office above.
Furthermore, the King - similar to the German Federal President - the representation of the state abroad, with special attention to the history of Nations Community (Comunidad Histórica) Spain is laid.
The king himself is not subject to any liability in relation to other constitutional organs. However, his official acts required to manage the royal family even if it is not signed by the Prime Minister or the Minister, who then in turn bear the responsibility.
Official language: Spanish, officially regional: Aranesisch, Basque, Galician, Catalan
Capital: Madrid
Form of government: Parliamentary hereditary monarchy
State: King Juan Carlos I.
Head of government: Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero
Area: 504,645 kilometers ²
Population: 46,063,511
Bevölker. density: 91 inhabitants / km ²
GDP: $ 1,438,959 million
Status: May 2009
