Editing Tapas (section)

== Origin ==
Though the primary meaning of ''tapa ''is cover or lid'','' in Spain it has also become a term for this style of food. The origin of this new meaning is uncertain but there are several theories:

* The tapas tradition may have begun when king [[Alfonso X of Castile]] (1221–1284) recovered from an illness by drinking wine with small dishes between meals. After regaining his health, the king ordered that taverns would not be allowed to serve wine to customers unless it was accompanied by a small snack or "tapa".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arrakis.es/~jols/tapas/historin.html|title=The History of Tapas|last=Fadón|first=Y.V.|date=1999|website=El mudo de las Tapas, The World of Tapas in Spain|others=Translated by Madeleine Lewis, 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622060705/http://www.arrakis.es/~jols/tapas/historin.html|archive-date=2012-06-22|access-date=2012-06-24}}</ref>
* Another popular and more modern explanation says that King [[Alfonso XIII]] (1886–1941) stopped by a famous tavern in [[Cádiz]] (an Andalusian city) where he ordered a glass of [[wine]]. The waiter covered the glass with a slice of cured ham before offering it to the king, in order to protect the wine from the blowing beach sand, as Cádiz is a windy place. The king, after drinking the wine and eating the ham, ordered another wine ''con la tapa'' ("with the cover").<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.erroreshistoricos.com/curiosidades-historicas/origen/183-el-origen-de-las-tapas-y-alfonso-xiii.html|title=El origen de las Tapas y Alfonso XIII|website=ErroresHistoricos.com|language=es|trans-title=The origin of the Tapas and Alfonso XIII|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101122204344/http://erroreshistoricos.com/curiosidades-historicas/origen/183-el-origen-de-las-tapas-y-alfonso-xiii.html|archive-date=2010-11-22|access-date=2011-01-17}}</ref>