Variety Is the Spice of EU Life

Are work habits, culture and lifestyle across Europe determined by weather?

Studies have shown that the climate has a direct influence on the culture in any given place. Europe, for instance, is a continent of contradictions and dissimilarities. Geographically, the European Union covers just 2 per cent of the Earth's surface, but its 27 countries couldn't be more diverse in terms of culture. Europeans have evolved varied lifestyle patterns to counter the effects of fluctuating weather conditions.

For many Spaniards, the siesta is an important aspect of daily life. Spain is a relatively hot country, where temperatures soar in the summer months. A siesta allows people, especially those who work outdoors, to escape the hottest part of the day. In addition, the Spanish tend to eat a fairly heavy lunch, meaning that a subsequent nap is all but an inevitability.

Similarly, the heat in Italy often means that those living in the city usually work fewer hours during the summer. June, July and August are usually when Italians take their summer holidays to escape the high temperatures.

More hours of daylight in the summer also mean higher productivity. Many parts of Italy have 17 to 18 hours of daylight in the summer, allowing more time for outdoor activities, for both work and leisure. There are contrasting studies suggesting that people in the colder countries of northern Europe, such as Iceland, Sweden and Denmark, work longer and harder than those in the warmer southern Europe. Weather that keeps people indoors most of the year is seen as a significant factor in the increased working hours in these countries.

As for the British, wet and cold weather has undoubtedly contributed to the evolution of pub culture. Constant drizzle and biting winds keep the British sipping their pints by the open fire in warm and toasty pubs. For foreigners going to England to learn English London can make a mixed impression - a beautiful city but with such bad weather that it cannot be enjoyed properly. They don't have to stay long before they understand the benefits of a warm and welcoming pub on a dreary day. Pubs can also be a good place to start picking up the basics of the language. Hearty English banter tends to flow with the beer and, if you're ever stuck for conversation, a quick observation about the prevailing conditions can provide subject matter for the entire evening. Indeed, foreign students enrolling at a language school in London often quip that their first English conversation lessons relate to the weather.

The impact of weather on lifestyle and work habits in Europe has actually been the subject of research for many years. Culture and history are still considered the main points of differentiation among the countries of Europe, but the role that weather plays in defining behavioural patterns cannot be ignored.