the historical context.
Essay on Spanish History
Patterns
in Spanish Society: Eating and Dressing
The
Spanish influence extends beyond the country prime years during the Age of
Colonization. Spain has a rich history in producing the finest food, wine, and
dresses. Because of Spain is a pre-dominantly Catholic nation, several
festivals in honour of saints are being held. During these events, towns and
cities parade colourful floats and houses offer the best food and wine
available. Spanish appreciation for excess has been known worldwide. Aside from
these cultural realities, it is important to understand a typical Spanish
society based on historical accounts.
When
Spain was still ruled by monarchs, food was considered as one of the indicators
of societal hierarchy. During coronation of Kings, the most elaborate, exotic,
and expensive foods are presented to the table. Monarchs believe that the
difference in the food they eat is significant in showing that they are above
their servants. Like in today’s society, monarchs prepare the best feasts for
guests and serve the most traditional food available in Spain.
Today’s consumption of high-quality and
high-priced food by the rich is just a reflection of history. In Spain,
legislations were even passed to distinguish the famous from the commons. Most
of the families consume more food than what they need and the poor are always
lacking of enough food in their table. But even during the Medieval Ages, there
are some fortunate individuals who have been doing some charitable works.
The
middle class meanwhile ate better food than the destitute. Priests, nobles, and
other middling elements of society enjoy some of the food served in monarchs.
At the same time, the middle class is aware of to table etiquette and manners.
Education as well as participation in events initiated by the monarchy have
improved the taste of middle classes when in comes to food.
Aside
from food, clothing is another strong indicator of social status. Even today,
there are expensive and outlandish clothes that only the rich people could
afford. During the Medieval times in Spain, clothes fabric and colour are used
as basis for social classes. For example, the Spanish Habsburg Court uses black
and white to serve as emblematic representation. The austere and sharp taste
exhibited by Spanish elites and merchants during the sixteenth to the
seventeenth centuries were more of affectation instead of a reflection of
contrast among classes.
Even
the use clothing has been accorded with sumptuary laws by Spanish legislators.
These laws pertain to restrictive measures that aimed to prevent obvious
consumption among all social classes within the Spanish realms. Sumptuary laws
were deliberately placed to block social mobility and to contain the
permeability of social orders. Despite these efforts to prevent changes in the
society, ambitious individuals, in particular merchants worked hard to gain
wealth. Aside from wealth, religious affiliations were also covered by these
laws. Minorities such as Jews and Muslims have specific clothes that could be
identified to them.
As
mentioned previously, colour of clothing is used to determine the social class
of an individual. Most of the poor in Spain during the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries use cotton, wool, and other cheap fabric. Most of the
poor clothes are plain and are not dyed.
Upper classes often use fabrics such as scarlet cloth, silk, and furs.
Also added in these expensive cloths are aesthetics customized to each
individual. The specific type of fabric and colour provide the identity for
these rich people and separates them from the poor an middle class.
The
current societies, not just in Spain have become more open to the use of
clothes. Clothing companies still value the upscale market and produce clothes
for the rich. Although colour has not been as significant of a classifier, the
type of textile still matters. There is still a divide but the gap has been
closing through time.
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