Celebrating Christmas in 5 Spanish Speaking Countries 🎄 (ft. AndyGM & Español con MarÃa)
I want to wish you everythingMerry Christmas!(Merry Christmas!)
Today we have a very special piece because I invited some of my YouTube friends from three other Spanish speaking countries to talk about itthe differences of Christmas between Spanish speaking countries(the differences in Christmas between Spanish speaking countries).
I will also cover the traditions of my own country, Venezuela, and the country I live in, Argentina. And let me tell you: I'm surprised by the great similarities that exist between Spanish-speaking countries, but there are also funny differences!
Whether it's about food, music, or even the way we give gifts, we'll go through the most popular traditions and customs in Latin America and Spain.So put on your Santa hat(so put on your Santa hat) andaccompany me!
Christmas in Spain
As our first guest I would like to welcome Andy from Spain. She is known for teaching German and also vlogging on her about her life in GermanyYouTube-Kanal AndyGM in Berlin.
I highly recommend subscribing to her channel as all her videos are in Spanish and you get great listening practice there!
We actually did a cool collaboration with her on theDifferences between Mexican and Castilian Spanish.
Andy tells us what Christmas is like in Spain
The traditions(Traditions) change depending on where you are in Spain and how religious you are, but I'll tell youmy experience(my experience).
Cities light up and ablaze with Christmas lights, and families gather for dinner on December 24th, dinner on December 25th, and then again for dinner on December 31st and dinner on January 1st. Yes we do like to get together at this time of year and have dinner and lunch together.
There's a very important thing that we're doing in Spain and it's happening on December 31st,Silvester: We eat 12 grapes to the sound of the bells. I mean honestly no one can eat them in time and when it's over... we all look like hamsters... like we keep the grapes in our mouths and we all look like hamsters when we sayHappy New Year!(Happy New Year!)
Another very nice thing we have isthe three wise men… They come on the night of January 5th to 6th and bring us presents. On the 5th of January there are also Rides of the Kings taking place all over Spain… it's amazing!
Some huge decorated cars, lots of lights, music... it's great! EveryWise mandrives the car and throws away sweets. It's very nice, because at night they come to our house and bring us gifts.
Regarding sweets, in Spain we have very, very special ones for Christmas: they existShortbread; we also have chocolates (they are wonderful!), and we have tooNougat...they are delicious, absolutely delicious!
Similarities with Venezuela
Venezuelans also eat grapes on December 31st!How strange, isn't it?(Curious, isn't it?) Venezuelans don't have anyNougatorShortbread, although... I'll give Andy my address so she can send some of these.
I'm from a town called Barquisimeto in Venezuela. As far as traditions goChristmas money is sung(we sing Aguinaldos at Christmas) which are our own version of Jingle Bells and are generally related to the birth of Jesus Christ.
We also listenProgress, a folkloric rhythm involving big bands and choirs.
We also have Christmas fairs called Misas de Aguinaldo.The curious thing about these masses(the curious thing about these masses)is that at the end Christmas skates are organized(that Christmas skating parties will be organized at the end),where all the children are skating on the streets near the church(where all the children skate on the streets near the church),and is accompanied by street music and fireworksand it is accompanied by street music and fireworks).cute, right?(nice, right?)
Christmas in Colombia
Now Venezuela and Colombia are neighboring countries, so don't be surprised if we have similar traditions for Christmas!
The cool thing is that I have my girlfriend MarÃa from the popular oneYoutube KanalSpanish with Maria, where she teaches Spanish. She will tell us a little about itChristmas traditionsin their country of Colombia.
MarÃa has tons of videos on her channel, and they're usually entirely in Spanish, so watching her videos will give you a great listening exercise.
MarÃa tells us what Christmas is like in Colombia
In Colombia, the Christmas season begins on the night of December 7th.the day of the candles(Day of the Little Candle). On December 8th we celebratethe Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary(Mother Mary's Holy Conception).
Colombia is the only country that celebratesthe day of the candles(Day of the Little Candles) and to welcome Mother Mary we all light little candles at home with our family and wish the Virgin. This is how the Christmas season begins in Colombia!
From December 16th to December 24th "those Novenas" take place. This means that the family comes together every day to pray. There is a little book called "those Novenas', where there is a prayer for each day and tells the story of the journeyMariaAndJosélived to give birth to the baby Jesus. During this "nineteen' we sing and eat Christmas dinner.
Typical Colombian Christmas dishes includedonuts,PuddingAndTamales, so we eat that and on December 24th we celebrate Christmas.
We meet on December 24th and we open the presents at midnight... Colombians believe more in baby Jesus than in Santa Claus.
Similarities with Venezuela
In Venezuela, children are also given gifts on Christmas Eve, December 24th.(In Venezuela we also give presents to children on Christmas Eve, i.e. on December 24th).
And like in Colombia, the one who gives the presents is the baby Jesus, not Santa Claus.(And just like in Colombia, Baby Jesus is the one who brings the presents, not Santa Claus.)
Shortly before twelve, all the children are sent to sleep(just before midnight all children are sent to bed)and the baby Jesus comes with the gifts(and meanwhile Baby Jesus comes with the gifts).
Place them under the Christmas tree or crib(he leaves them under the Christmas tree or the crib)and after he has gone they call all the children and all celebrate as they open the presents and play with them(and after he leaves all the children are called and everyone celebrates as they open the presents and play with them).
And yes, we also put up a Christmas tree and decorate it with lights and personal touches that every family likes.
In addition, we set up something called in Venezuelathe manger, which is a sort of miniature recreation of the Nativity scene in Bethlehem with the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph and the baby Jesus.
It's great because you can be creative with it and put some sheep around... and the villagers... and the Power Rangers are there... and Gokú and Vegeta and... What?! What do you mean Goku and Vegeta don't go in?the manger? Oh well! At least we still have the Power Rank... THE POWER RANGERS DON'T GO IN THAT, TOO???!!!
Christmas in Mexico
Now we have one of our very own spring Spanish teachers: my good friend Mariana, who will tell us what Christmas is like in Mexico!
Mariana tells us what Christmas is like in Mexico
In Mexico, Christmas and New Year's Eve are celebrated in different ways.(In Mexico, Christmas and New Year's Eve are celebrated in many different ways.) In general, it's all about the food.
Mexicans have their own word to refer to the entire dining experience that will be held from December 12th (Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe) to January 6 (Epiphany): Guadalupe – Kings Marathon. During this "marathon" there is a lot of eating and drinking in Mexico!
Another thing people do in Mexico to celebrate Christmas and New Year(another thing people do in Mexico to celebrate Christmas and New Year) is asking for shelter; this is called "ask for accommodation“.
From December 16th to 24th, on the night Jesus was born, people ask for shelter as if they were Mary and Joseph. Some people do it in their own families. So they go to a certain house and then from one room to the next asking for shelter while singing a certain song.
So there are people outside the room, there are people in every room, and then they either reject or welcome Mary and Joseph.
On the night of December 24th to 31st(on the night of December 24-31) the whole family gathers – usually at the grandparents’ house – and they have dinner together. Then they give each other gifts until after 12 noon, go to bed and wake up very late the next day.
They gather again the next day for "which overheats', that's all that's left of the night before: people reheat it and eat it the next day.
Punch, tamales, donuts, atole, and sometimes hot chocolate is always present in a Mexican household on both Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
I grew up in northern Mexico(I grew up in northern Mexico) and I remember asking for protection now and then and going broke toopinataswith my family and my friends.
On December 24th and 31st we always go to my grandparents' house and have dinner with everyone. We give each other gifts, open them and go to bed around 3am. Usually we wake up very late the next day and go back to “which overheats' which is always very good, even better than the night before.
My grandma is a very religious person so there is always a nativity scene in her house, but I grew up believing in Santa Claus - and not in the Magi or baby Jesus - as the one who brings me presents. I think that's the case with most kids in northern Mexico while those living in the south believe in the Magi as the ones who bring them gifts, but that's until January 6th.
Christmas in Argentina
I swear Mexico is so interesting and allwarmed upPart sure sounds good! That reminds me, I have a special surprise for you: Watch this video to learn more about the traditional Venezuelan Christmas dish!
Regarding Argentina, I've found that Christmas here can be very different from other parts of Latin America.
The first thing you will notice is that Christmas takes place in the summer, so traditional December food tends to be fresh or even coldVitel Tone, which is cold meat served in mayonnaise and cold tuna sauce with dressings.
They also have sweet bread,NougatAndMantel, This is a peanut-based candy bar – actually my favorite candy from Argentina! Of course, this is Argentina, so you can always get away with oneroast meatat Christmas, the traditional Argentinian barbecue.
Santa Claus is known asSanta Claus, just like in France, and he's the one who brings the presents to the children.
what about you guys What are the Christmas traditions in your country? Are they similar or different? Let me know in the comments!
FREE Spanish training
So folks, I hope you now know a little bit more about Spanish-speaking Christmas! I want to thank Andy, MarÃa and Mariana for helping me today and remember that you can access oursfree spanish trainingon our website and learn more about the chunking method we use to help our students become fluent in Spanish without translating in their heads and without thinking about grammar all the time.
I hope you all haveMerry Christmas and a Happy New Year(Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year)! Now if you'll excuse me, I have a date with this traditional Venezuelan dish...