The culture of Gibraltar – and what it should mean to you

Every time you move from one place to another, whether you are undertaking a corporate relocation or are simply on the lookout for the right retirement spot, you’ll have plenty of mundane, but vital things to think about. You’ll need to consider everything from the tax and pensions situation in your chosen destination to the most appropriate schools and places to work, if applicable. Sure enough, these are aspects of moving to Gibraltar that Indigo (http://www.indigo.gi) can assist you with.

However, there is another thing that you’ll need to prepare yourself for when you are overseeing a move to Gibraltar: that inevitable “culture shock”. For Britons, of course, that isn’t as serious an issue as it might have been in other places, given Gibraltar’s status as a British overseas territory. But as you’d expect of somewhere that is also in close proximity to Spain and that is home to residents of an even wider mix of ethnic origins, including Portuguese, Maltese and Genoese among others, the culture of Gibraltar is diverse.

After all, you’ve also got plenty of residents both British and of an Andalusian Spanish ethnic origin, with the likes of Hindu Indians, Moroccan Muslims and Jews similarly having their respective communities. Still, it is the territory’s British heritage that seems to be a particular source of pride among Gibraltarians themselves, with many even regarding themselves as “more British than the British”. Whereas the Spanish language, for example, is widely spoken, it is essentially vernacular, with English being the sole official language throughout government, commerce, the media and education. British television, too, is very accessible in Gibraltar.

Christianity is the main religion in the territory, with the Roman Catholic Church taking precedence over the Church of England: indeed, the former accounts for around 75 per cent of Gibraltarians. Protestant, Jewish and Muslim minority groups make up much of the rest, however, as small as the Jewish community is, it is certainly very active and influential in corporate and political circles. Moroccan residents are mainly of the Muslim faith, whereas most Indians are Hindu, with a local temple of their own.

There are so many other aspects of the local culture to find out about when you relocate to Gibraltar. These include a significant sporting scene that encompasses football, cricket, rugby union, basketball and more. The music of Gibraltar, meanwhile, has been resuming a real rock edge as of late, as demonstrated by its burgeoning local bands. The territory’s cuisine, too, is truly eclectic, incorporating the dishes of many of the aforementioned nationalities. As ever, we can guide you through these and so many other aspects of living in Gibraltar when you contact us here at Indigo (http://www.indigo.gi).

Editor’s Note: Indigo (http://www.indigo.gi) is represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Please direct all press queries to Louise Byrne. Email: louise@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.