Spanish Steps - Fact file - Gifts

When visiting Spanish or Latin American hosts, it's considered good manners to bring un regalo, a small gift, to show your appreciation. A good suggestion is unas flores, a bunch of flowers, or unos dulces, sweets or dessert foods.

There are however many other festividades, special festivities, and ritos, rites of passage, that are accompanied by present-giving and general partying. These include the universal celebrations such as el cumpleaños, birthday, and el día de la Madre, Mother's Day.

One of the most interesting is la quinceañera, literally, the fifteenth birthday, which takes place in many Latin American countries. This rite of passage traditionally marks the transition of teenage girls to adulthood, announcing to the world that the young woman is eligible for marriage. Times have changed, but many parents and extended family members will still come together to witness the occasion and offer gifts to the young woman, such as maquillaje, make up, and ropa, clothes.

Other occasions are deeply rooted in Catholic tradition: many people will celebrate el día del santo, the Saint's Day or name day, and children named after the saint receive presents. People will congratulate you with ¡Felicidades! as they do on your birthday.

Christmas gift giving in Spain is quite different from other countries too. It is not Father Christmas who comes to Spain bearing gifts, but los Reyes Magos, the Three Kings or Wise Men. Whereas most European countries receive gifts on la Nochebuena, literally 'the good night' or Christmas Eve, or el día de Navidad, Christmas Day, the Spanish wait until the 6th January, the 12th day of Christmas.

This day is known as el día de Reyes, the Kings' Day, after the Three Kings who bore gifts to the baby Jesus. Traditionally on the night of the 5th January, children leave their shoes out so that los Reyes can leave their presents beside them. They also leave water and grass for the camels. Children must also be on their best behaviour, and parents take great pleasure in telling them Si te portas mal, los Reyes te van a traer carbón - 'If you're naughty, the Kings will leave you coal'. The following day of Epiphany, the 6th January, excited children rush on to the streets to watch the local Cabalgata, a colourful parade depicting the arrival of los Reyes Magos.

Link

La quinceañera - information on this Latin American tradition

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