Culture, customs, festivals and celebrations - CCEAGet started

Spain is well known for its fiestas and festivals. Being able to talk about culture and customs will help you communicate with locals and improve your language skills.

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Puerta del Sol in Madrid at Christmas

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:

brindarto toast
celebrarto celebrate
decorarto decorate
disfrazarse to dress up
regalarto give a present
brindar
to toast
celebrar
to celebrate
decorar
to decorate
disfrazarse
to dress up
regalar
to give a present

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 NuevoNew Year
el árbol de NavidadChristmas tree
la costumbrecustom/tradition
los fuegos artificialesfireworks
el día festivopublic holiday/bank holiday
la fiestaparty/festival
la NavidadChristmas
la NochebuenaChristmas Eve
la NocheviejaNew Year's Eve
Papá NoelFather Christmas
la tradicióntradition
el villancicoChristmas carol
el BelénNativity scene
el día de los Santos Inocentessimilar to 'April Fools' Day, celebrated on the 28th December
el día de ReyesKings' Day/Epiphany, celebrated on the 6th of January
los Reyes Magos3 Wise Men
el día de NavidadChristmas Day
el día de Año NuevoNew Years' Day
las luceslights
Feliz NavidadHappy Christmas
Feliz Año NuevoHappy New Year
el turróntypical sweet Christmas delicacy
la Misa del Gallomidnight mass
los regalospresents
la lotería de Navidadtypical Christmas lottery celebrated on the 22nd of December, which indicates the beginning of the Christmas Season in Spain
el Año Nuevo
New Year
el árbol de Navidad
Christmas tree
la costumbre
custom/tradition
los fuegos artificiales
fireworks
el día festivo
public holiday/bank holiday
la fiesta
party/festival
la Navidad
Christmas
la Nochebuena
Christmas Eve
la Nochevieja
New Year's Eve
Papá Noel
Father Christmas
la tradición
tradition
el villancico
Christmas carol
el Belén
Nativity scene
el día de los Santos Inocentes
similar to 'April Fools' Day, celebrated on the 28th December
el día de Reyes
Kings' Day/Epiphany, celebrated on the 6th of January
los Reyes Magos
3 Wise Men
el día de Navidad
Christmas Day
el día de Año Nuevo
New Years' Day
las luces
lights
Feliz Navidad
Happy Christmas
Feliz Año Nuevo
Happy New Year
el turrón
typical sweet Christmas delicacy
la Misa del Gallo
midnight mass
los regalos
presents
la lotería de Navidad
typical Christmas lottery celebrated on the 22nd of December, which indicates the beginning of the Christmas Season in Spain