What animals live in Spain?

Spain has some remarkable wildlife! The Iberian lynx lives in the forests and scrublands of southern Spain — it is one of the rarest wild cats in the world, with spotted fur and tufted ears. Golden eagles soar over the mountains, and wild boar roam through oak forests looking for acorns. In the rivers of Spain you can find the European otter, slipping silently through the water. The Pyrenees mountains in the north are home to brown bears and chamois, which are sure-footed mountain goats that leap across steep rocky cliffs. Spain is a land with many different landscapes — from snowy peaks to dry plains — and each one has its own creatures living there, just as God designed.

What do kids eat in Spain?

Kids in Spain often start their day with a thick cup of hot chocolate and churros — long fried dough sticks perfect for dipping. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, and Spanish families usually eat it together around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. You might find paella on the table, which is a big pan of rice cooked with seafood, chicken, or vegetables. One snack Spanish kids love is pan con tomate — bread rubbed with fresh tomato and a little olive oil. Spain grows a huge amount of olives, so olive oil shows up in almost everything! In the evening, families often share small plates of food called tapas, like cheese, jamón (cured ham), or little fried fish. Eating together is a big part of life in Spain.

How do people say hello in Spain?

In Spain, the most common way to say hello is '¡Hola!' — you say it like 'OH-lah.' It is used by just about everyone, from kids on the playground to adults at the market. Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the whole world, and it started right here on the Iberian Peninsula. If you want to be a little more formal, Spaniards also say 'Buenos días' in the morning, which means 'Good day.' When friends meet, they often greet each other with a light kiss on each cheek — first the right, then the left. That might seem surprising, but every culture has its own special way of showing friendliness, and God made people wonderfully different all across the earth.

What sports or games do kids play in Spain?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Spain are absolutely wild about fútbol — that's what they call soccer. You'll find kids kicking a ball around in plazas and schoolyards all across the country, dreaming of playing for famous clubs like Real Madrid or FC Barcelona. But fútbol isn't the only game in town! Kids in Spain also love basketball, which is hugely popular there. A traditional game called 'pilla-pilla' is basically tag, and you'll hear kids laughing and chasing each other with it in neighborhoods everywhere. During festivals, you might also spot kids playing pelota, a fast-moving ball game with deep roots in Spanish history.

What's the weather like in Spain?

Spain has some of the most varied weather in all of Europe! The south is hot and dry — summers in Seville can climb past 100°F (38°C). But the north, near the Bay of Biscay, gets cool and rainy, almost like Ireland. The middle of Spain sits on a high plateau called the Meseta, where winters can be surprisingly cold and summers blazing hot. Madrid, right in the center, can see snow in January and scorching heat in July. Spain is a big country, so what you wear really depends on which corner you are exploring!

Tell me a fun fact about Spain.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Spain is home to a festival called La Tomatina, where an entire town throws ripe tomatoes at each other just for the fun of it. Thousands of people show up every August in the town of Buñol, and the streets turn completely red by the end. Rusty wants you to know that Spain also has one of the oldest restaurants in the world — Sobrino de Botín in Madrid, which has been serving food since 1725. That means it was cooking meals before the United States even existed as a country! Spain has a long, rich history, and it has also sent many missionaries to Latin America over the centuries, spreading the Christian faith to the other side of the world.

What is school like for kids in Spain?

In Spain, kids usually start school around age three and go all the way through to age sixteen or so. School days are long — often from nine in the morning until five in the afternoon — but there is a good break in the middle of the day for lunch, sometimes even a short rest. Most kids study Spanish, math, history, and a foreign language like English. Spain has been a Catholic country for hundreds of years, so many schools there have a Christian heritage, and kids might learn about the Bible in class. But knowing facts about Jesus is different from personally trusting Him as Savior, and many families in Spain today don't have a living faith. That is one reason missionaries are working there — so that Spanish kids and their families can hear and believe the real good news about Jesus.

Who are the unreached people in Spain?

Great question! Spain is a country most people think of as Christian because of its long Catholic history — but Herman and I have learned that having a church building in every town doesn't mean everyone knows Jesus personally. Today, some of the least-reached people in Spain are the Roma people (sometimes called Gitanos), Moroccan immigrants, and many Spanish people who have simply walked away from faith altogether and never heard the real gospel explained to them. The Roma people have lived in Spain for hundreds of years, and while some Roma have come to faith through evangelical churches, many others still haven't heard the good news in a way that connects with their culture. Moroccan immigrants often come from Muslim backgrounds and face real barriers to hearing about Jesus. And millions of everyday Spanish people are what missionaries call 'post-Christian' — they've heard church words their whole lives but never understood that Jesus offers a real, personal relationship. That's why missionaries in Spain work hard to share the gospel in fresh, clear ways. You could pray that God opens hearts across all these groups to truly know Jesus as Savior.

How can I pray for the people of Spain?

Spain is a country with a long Christian history, but today most people there do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. Many Spaniards have heard the name of Jesus but have never really heard the gospel — the good news that Jesus died and rose again to save us from our sins. You can pray that God opens their hearts to truly hear and believe that message. There are not many evangelical churches in Spain, so the ones that do exist really need your prayers. Ask God to help those churches grow strong and bold, and to raise up Spanish men and women who will lead and preach the gospel to their own people. Pray also for missionaries serving in Spain — that they have courage, open doors, and good friendships with people who need Jesus.

What is a holiday or celebration in Spain?

One of Spain's most well-known celebrations is Semana Santa, which means 'Holy Week' in Spanish. It happens every year in the week before Easter, and in cities like Seville, huge crowds line the streets to watch solemn processions where people carry large statues of Jesus and Mary through the city. The processions can last for hours, with music, candles, and incredible craftsmanship on display. What makes this interesting for us as explorers is that while many Spaniards take part in Semana Santa as a tradition, missionaries and local churches use this time to share the real meaning of Easter — that Jesus actually died for our sins and rose from the dead, and that trusting Him changes everything.

What language do people speak in Spain?

Most people in Spain speak Spanish, which is also called Castilian. It is one of the most widely spoken languages in the whole world — hundreds of millions of people use it across Spain and Latin America. But Spain actually has several other languages too! In the northeast, many people speak Catalan. In the northwest, people speak Galician. And the Basque people in the north speak Basque, which is one of the most unusual languages in Europe — it is not related to any other known language in the world. That means missionaries and Bible translators have had some really interesting work to do in Spain over the years!

What's a famous place to visit in Spain?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! One of the most famous places in Spain is the Sagrada Família in Barcelona — a giant cathedral that has been under construction since 1882. Its towers look like tall honeycomb spires reaching toward the sky, and the inside glows with colored light streaming through hundreds of stained-glass windows. The architect, Antoni Gaudí, designed it as a way to honor God through stone and light. He was a devoted Christian, and he said the cathedral itself was meant to tell the story of Jesus — His birth, His death, and His resurrection. People come from all over the world to walk inside and look up in wonder. It is a good reminder that beauty can point our hearts toward the God who made all beautiful things.

Spain — Kids Missions Explorer

Iberian Lynx

The Iberian lynx is one of the rarest wild cats on Earth and lives only in the forests and scrublands of Spain and Portugal.

Flamingo

Thousands of flamingos gather each year in the shallow saltwater lagoons of southern Spain, turning the water pink with their numbers.

Tortilla Española

A thick, golden omelette made with eggs and sliced potatoes, eaten warm or cold at almost any time of day across Spain.

Churros

Crispy fried dough sticks, often dipped into thick hot chocolate, that Spanish families enjoy as a breakfast or afternoon snack.

Paella

A saffron-seasoned rice dish cooked in a wide shallow pan, traditionally made with rabbit and vegetables in the Valencia region where it was born.

Spain

Things you should know about Spain

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Spain

Missions in Spain

Pray for Spain