Spanish customs, celebrations and festivals
The different festivals and customs of Spanish-speaking countries are well-known throughout the world. Revise key vocabulary used to discuss traditional celebrations and parties, as well as music festivals.
Vocabulary- celebrations and parties
Spain is well-known for its fiestas and festivals. Almost every city, town and village has its own festival of some kind, which is usually a big street party for all the residents. Some festivals are famous all over the world, such as the fireworks of Las Fallas in Valencia and the tomato throwing at La Tomatina.
Here are some useful verbs to use when talking about celebrations.
| brindar | to toast |
| celebrar | to celebrate |
| decorar | to decorate |
| disfrazarse | to dress up |
| festejar | to celebrate |
| regalar | to give a present |
Just as in the UK, Christmas and New Year are big celebrations for many people. Here is some useful vocabulary to get started talking about them.
| el Año Nuevo | New Year |
| el árbol de Navidad | Christmas tree |
| la costumbre | custom/tradition |
| el Fin de Año / la Nochevieja | New Year's Eve |
| los fuegos artificiales | fireworks |
| el día festivo | public holiday/bank holiday |
| la fiesta | party/festival |
| la Navidad | Christmas |
| la Nochebuena | Christmas Eve |
| el Papá Noel | Father Christmas |
| la tradición | tradition |
| el villancico | Christmas carol |
Eating twelve grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve is a tradition in Spain. One grape is eaten on each of the twelve strokes of midnight.
Read this passage about Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve celebrations in Spain.
La cena de Nochebuena en España tiene lugar cada 24 de diciembre. Esta cena se celebra en los hogares de los españoles junto a toda la familia.
El Fin de Año se despide del año entre fuegos artificiales, fiestas, tradiciones familiares, y las famosas doce uvas de la suerte. La costumbre de las doce uvas tiene su origen en el año 1909 y se considera un rito para entrar en el año nuevo con suerte.
Answer the questions in English.
- Question
What do most Spaniards do on Christmas Eve in Spain?
They have dinner with their family at home.
La cena de Nochebuena ... se celebra en los hogares de los españoles junto a toda la familia (Christmas Eve dinner ... is celebrated in Spanish homes with all the family).
- Question
Apart from eating 12 grapes on the strokes of midnight, note two ways that Spaniards celebrate New Year's Eve.
Here are three examples: fireworks (fuegos artificiales), parties (fiestas) and family traditions (tradiciones familiares).
- Question
Why are grapes traditionally eaten?
They are eaten to bring luck - para entrar en el año nuevo con suerte (to start the new year with luck).