‘AGOSTO’ is a month notorious in southern Spain for its tendency to ‘calentar la cabeza’ (heat the head, literally). Just when we’ve tolerated the various temperature-related weather warnings of July, August hits us with its furnace-like vibes, causing people to lose the plot, sometimes accompanied by shouting and violence!
According to research, there’s a direct link between high temperatures and hot tempers. Violent crimes are more probable when the mercury rises, as shown by various studies. This is partly because intense heat increases our heat rate and leads to frustration.
Even in the controlled environment of prisons, a 2021 study identified an 18% increase in violence between inmates on ‘scorchio’ days. Furthermore, suicide rates can increase with the heat, although they are also influenced by wind and dropping temperatures.
“There are always more problems in August,” an ex-Policia Local agent told South of Granada. “You need to be careful. It can be best to keep your distance from other people in that month.”
Anecdotal evidence suggests he is correct. What would normally be trivial problems in the community can easily boil over when thermometers exceed 40C.
Whether it is a badly parked vehicle, a neighbour hating on your dog, kids misbehaving at the swimming pool, teens having a ‘botellon’ within earshot of your bedroom, drunken tourists whooping it up at a nearby discotheque, or people not doing their job properly, tempers can easily fray. This can result in a yelling match or calling the Guardia Civil to issue a ‘denuncia’.
Furthermore, very hot days drain our energy levels by making us sweat and dehydrate. With restaurant interiors becoming unbearably hot, August can be the month where standards drop because employees are worn out, and sloppy service accompanies literally sloppy (or limp) food. Being served half-cooked chicken wings, likely to cause food poisoning, or ‘tapa’ with dubious-looking mayonnaise sauce (if the ‘tapa’ arrives at all) can be challenging for customer relations.
Then there’s the age-old issue of water. In August, when ‘acequias’ tend to be running low, woe betide the ‘vecino’ who takes water out of turn or is seen hosing their campo ‘not on their day’. On top of the traditional boundary and access track disputes, water fights (and we don’t mean San Juan in Lanjarón!) worsen when Andalucia is baking under an unforgiving sun.
So, what should we do about it?
Some good techniques for remaining cool (and calm) include:
- Don’t do your important errands in the midday sun – try to beat the heat with an earlier start. Such as 8am.
- If you are overheating, run water over your wrists and neck and drink a glass of cool ‘agua’.
- Fizzy water (‘agua con gas’) arguably hits the spot the quickest.
- Park your car in the shade so it doesn’t literally bake you when you return to it.
- Avoid food that is difficult to digest and raises your body temperature – such as beef steak or burger. A fresh salad or ‘gazpacho’ might be a preferable menu choice during the daytime.
- A dip in the pool can work wonders. Or another cold shower!
- Consider walking away from the ranting neighbour / family member / disgruntled waiter before you say or do something you regret!