Navidad, Semana Santa, Día de los Muertos. Traditions, greetings and party vocabulary.
| Holiday | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Navidad | December 25 | All Spanish-speaking countries |
| Nochebuena | December 24 | Christmas Eve dinner — the main event |
| Nochevieja | December 31 | New Year's Eve — eat 12 grapes! |
| Día de Reyes | January 6 | Spain — gifts from the Three Kings |
| Semana Santa | March/April | Holy Week — processions |
| Día de los Muertos | November 1-2 | Mexico — honoring the dead |
| Día de la Independencia | Varies by country | National celebrations |
¡Feliz Navidad! (Merry Christmas!)
¡Feliz Año Nuevo! (Happy New Year!)
¡Felices Fiestas! (Happy Holidays!)
¡Feliz cumpleaños! (Happy birthday!)
¡Felicidades! (Congratulations!)
¡Que lo pases bien! (Have a good time!)
¡Que cumplas muchos más! (May you celebrate many more! — birthday)
| Spanish | English |
|---|---|
| la fiesta | party |
| el regalo | gift |
| la tarta / el pastel | cake |
| las velas | candles |
| el brindis | toast |
| ¡Salud! | Cheers! |
| los fuegos artificiales | fireworks |
| el villancico | Christmas carol |
At midnight on December 31, Spaniards eat 12 grapes — one with each bell strike. Each grape represents a month. If you finish all 12, you'll have good luck!
Families create altares (altars) with ofrendas (offerings) for deceased loved ones. They include calaveras de azúcar (sugar skulls), flores de cempasúchil (marigolds), food and photos. It's a celebration of life, not mourning.
The Spanish birthday song: "Cumpleaños feliz, cumpleaños feliz, te deseamos todos, cumpleaños feliz."
In Mexico: "Las Mañanitas" is sung instead — a much longer, traditional song.
1. Merry Christmas! = ¡Feliz _____!
2. New Year's Eve = _____.
3. Cheers! (toast) = ¡_____!
4. January 6 in Spain = Día de _____.
5. Sugar skulls = calaveras de _____.
6. Fireworks = fuegos _____.
7. Christmas carol = _____.
8. Have a good time! = ¡Que lo _____ bien!
9. Gift = _____.
10. At Nochevieja, Spaniards eat _____ grapes.
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