Spanish Holidays

Impertant Holidays Spanish Learners Should Know THE DAY OF THE DEAD el Día de los Muertos When: November 1 and 2 What: On these days, family members gather to honor their deceased loved ones. Vocab to Know: el altar (altar), el pan de muertos (sweet bread baked during the weeks leading up to de Muertos), el cementerio (cemetery), decorar las tumbas (to decorate the tombs), las flores (flowers) Día Day of the Dead NEW YEAR / NEW YEAR'S EVE el Año Nuevo / Nochevieja **W** HAPPY NEW YEAR When: January 1 / December 31 What: This holiday is celebrated with festivities throughout the Hispanic world in a variety of ways. In Ecuador, bigger-than-life figures of key individuals from the previous year are dis- played, and burned at midnight. In Spain, people consume 12 grapes with each strike of the clock at midnight. If all of the grapes are consumed in time, it symbolizes 12 months of good luck. Vocab to Know: las uvas (grapes) el reloj (clock) doce meses (12 months) buena suerte (good luck) EPIPHANY el Día de los Reyes When: January 6 What: This holiday recognizes the existence of God in the human form as Jesus Christ. What makes this holiday especially fun is that it relates to children. Just as the three wise men visited Jesus Christ as an infant, the three wise men visit homes before dawn on January 6th to leave Christmas gifts for children. Vocab to Know: Dios (God) los reyes magos (three wise men) el alba (dawn) los regalos de Navidad (Christmas gifts) te takelessons Ready to improve your Spanish skills? Sign up for lessons with a Spanish tutor today at Takelessons.com.