The family is one of the most important concepts in Spain. Normally it´s more important than a job or friends. Now, in times of crisis it´s getting more notorious: one helps not only her children or parents, but also sobrinos (nephews), primos (cousins), etc. Till 1980 it was quite normal to have more than 3-4 children, so now it´s quite normal to have a lot of uncles, aunts and cousins. All of them form your familia. So, when a Spanish says mi familia she can be speaking about 30-100 people!