CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY

VOCABULARY IN SPANISH !!
VOCABULARY FOR THE HOLIDAYS SAMPLE PHRASES FOR A HOLIDAY CARD

LA NAVIDAD IF YOU REMEMBER ALL THE WAY BACK TO OUR LESSON ON

THANKSGIVING VOCABULARY, THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO
LA NOCHEBUENA EXPRESS OR GIVE THANKS FOR THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE:

EL ANO NUEVO ESTOY MUY AGRADECIDO/A POR TI

LA NOCHEVIEJA ________________________________

QUERIDO/A TE AMO / TE QUIERO

________________________________
FAMILIA
AMIGOS OTHER PHRASES FOR THE HOLIDAYS

FERIADO QUERIDA FAMILIA, ¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!

___________________ ___________________
VACACIONES
CELEBRACIONES ¡FELIZ ANO NUEVO! ¡FELICES FIESTAS!
___________________ ___________________
DESCANSO DE INVIERNO
¡QUE DIOS TE BENDIGA!
ARBOL DE NAVIDAD ________________________________
ESTRELLAS
SINCEROS DESEOS PARA UN ANO NUEVO LLENO DE
NIEVE _______________________________________
MUNECO DE NIEVE PAZ
REGALOS DE NAVIDAD AMOR
ADORNOS DE NAVIDAD FELICIDAD
TRINEO SALUD
ESPERANZA
CHOICE FOR TODAY’S ASSIGNMENT:
o OPTION 1: LETTER DESCRIBING CHRISTMAS EXITO
TRADITIONS IN THE SPANISH SPEAKING WORLD
1) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN THE U.S.?
2) WHAT IS THE COOLEST THING ABOUT CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO?
3) NAME 3 BIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CHRISTMAS HERE AND IN MEXICO
(HINTS: BEGINNING & END OF CHRISTMAS, FOOD, CAROLING, PRESENTS, DECORATIONS)
4) NAME 3 BIG SIMILARITIES BETWEEN CHRISTMAS HERE AND IN MEXICO
5) WHICH CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS DO YOU PREFER AND WHY?
o OPTION 2: CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY CARD IN SPANISH
 Christmas Celebrations in Spanish Speaking Countries
Christmas Traditions:
1) _________________________ 2) _________________________ 3) __________________________
1) Las Posadas means _____________________: In Mexico, and other Spanish-speaking
countries, people begin their Christmas celebration on December 16 with Las Posadas,
which is NINE days before Christmas. It is a religious procession that reenacts the search for
shelter by Joseph and Mary before the birth of Jesus.
During this celebration, children will dress up as Mary and Joseph, going from house to house
looking for shelter and singing carols. They are turned away at many houses to represent the
struggle Mary & Joseph had to find shelter. When they reach the last house, someone lets
them in, and they celebrate with a huge party, lots of food and drink, and colorful pinatas.

2) Noche Buena means ___________________: It is the 9th night of Las Posadas. The children
lead a procession to the church and place a figure of the baby Jesus in the nacimiento or
Nativity scene there. Aftewards everyone attends midnight mass. After mass, the church bells
ring out and fireworks light up the skies. Many Mexican children receive gifts from Santa
Claus, but others do not believe in Santa Clause because it is an American invention.

3) Día de los Reyes means __________________________________________________.

This day, on January 6, is when children usually receive their presents from the Reyes Magos,
the Three Kings. Children leave their shoes on the windowsill and find them filled with gifts the
next morning. At a special dinner on this day, families and friends enjoy hot chocolate
flavored with vanilla and cinnamon and ring-shaped cake. Inside the cake, a tiny figure of
the baby Jesus is hidden. Whoever gets the slice of cake containing the tiny figure of Jesus
gets to act as his godparent at the Nativity scene and will host a party on February 2, el Dia
de la Candeleria – during which a religious service marks the end of the Christmas season.

Comparing Christmas Traditions

How do Christmas Celebrations in Spanish-speaking countries compare with the way
YOUR family celebrates the Holidays?
TRADITIONS OF
MY FAMILY TRADITIONS SPANISH-SPEAKING COUNTRIES

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