Today we are going to learn some Spanish words about Christmas and New Year. Holidays are just round the corner so our Spanish school, El Rincón del Tándem, has prepared a list of key words and expressions that will come in handy during Christmas time 😊
Many students from our Spanish school are going to spend Christmas in Spain for their first time. In order to help them to get prepared, we will teach you some basic words and sentences and to tell you shortly about the most typical Christmas and New year traditions in Spain.
Therefore, let’s take a look at this list of words and expressions every Spanish learners absolutely needs to know to spend Christmas time in Spain…
Dates
- Nochebuena (24 de diciembre): Christmas Eve
- Nochevieja (31 de diciembre): New Year’s Eve
- Día de los Santos Inocentes (28 diciembre): literally “The day of the Innocent Saints”. On this day people usually makes jokes. The most traditional one is to stick a paper doll on your friends’ back 😊
- Día de Reyes (6 de enero): Day of the Epiphany. This religious holiday is celebrated on the 6th January and marks the end of the Christmas Holidays. Día de Reyes recall the day the Three Wise men visited and offered gifts to Baby Jesus. In Spain and other Latin American countries, that is the day when people Exchange gifts.
Words related to Christmas celebrations and Catholic religious traditions
- Árbol de Navidad: Christmas Tree
- Papá Noel: Santa Claus
- Belén/ pesebre/nacimiento: Nativity Scene
- Reyes Magos: Three wise men
- La estrella de Belén: the star of Bethlehem
- Luces de Navidad/luces navideñas: Christmas lights
- Adornos: Ornaments
- Campanas: Bells
- Guirnalda: Garland
- Villancicos: Christmas carols
- Calendario de adviento: It is a “countdown” calendar that marks the time until Christmas and goes from 1 to 24 December. It usually has boxes containing sweets, chocolate or small gifts, which are opened each day till Dec.24.
Traditions and habits in Spain
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- Patinar sobre hielo = to skate on ice
- Decorar el árbol de navidad = to decorate the Christmas tree
- Brindar con cava = to toast with cava
- Escribir una tarjeta de Navidad = to write a Christmas card
- Escribir una carta a Papá Noel = to write a letter to Santa Claus
- Envolver los regalos = to wrap gifts
- Abrir los regalos = to open gifts
- Felicitar el año nuevo = to wish a happy new year
- Cantar los villancicos = to sing the carols
- Ir a los mercadillos de Navidad = to go to the Christmas markets
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- Pedir el aguinaldo. It refers to an old tradition when people, especially kids and youngsters, go to the neighbours’ houses to sing carols, receiving for that sweets or money.
- Comprar un décimo de la Lotería de Navidad = To buy a tenth-share for the Christmas Lottery. The Christmas Lottery, also known as el Sorteo extraordinario de Navidad is the most important and popular lottery of Spain. The lottery raffle is celebrated each year on the 22nd of December and broadcasted on the national TV channel.
It is also known as “el Gordo de Navidad”.
- Tomar las 12 uvas en Nochevieja. It is one of the most popular and enduring traditions of New Year’s Eve. It consists of eating a grape with each bell stroke at midnights of Dec 31 to wish luck for the new year.
Cakes and other sweet confections
- Turrón – Nougat
- Mazapán – Marzipan
- Polvorones – shortbread cookie
- Roscón de reyes. A typical Spanish cake with a bagel-shape, filled with whipped cream and decorated with coloured sweets. Spanish people use to eat it on the day of Epiphany (Día de Reyes).
Greetings
- ¡Feliz Navidad! = Merry Christmas!
- ¡Felices fiestas! = Happy Holidays!
- ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! = Happy New year!
- Mis mejores deseos en esta Navidad para ti y tu familia = My best wished for you and your family on Christmas
- ¡Salud! = Cheers!
If you want to wish somebody good thing for Christmas and New Year, you can start by saying with “Que + subjuntivo”. See the examples below:
- Que pases unas felices fiestas = Have a happy holiday season
- Que tengas un maravilloso año nuevo = Have a wonderful new year
- Que logres tus metas para este nuevo año = May you achieve your goals for this new year
We hope our post on Spanish words about Christmas and New Year will be useful to you.
If you want to learn more Spanish expressions, go back to our previous post!
Finally, our Spanish school el Rincón del Tándem provides you a friendly space where you can learn Spanish while having fun.
If you want to study Spanish in Valencia, take a look at our courses!
¡Felices fiestas y hasta pronto!
