Learn Spanish Through Hispanic Culture archivos - Page 2 of 3

¡Es una pasada! Celebrating Carnival in the Hispanic World

Carnival in the Hispanic World After reading this blogpost in English, we recommend that you read it in Spanish Carnival is a celebration with both religious and pagan origins. It’s related to Lent, the forty days of spiritual preparation before Easter. Its pagan origins are related to the festival of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, and other Roman festivals. Carnival is celebrated between February and March; the date changes because it has to begin on a Thursday, known as jueves lardero or jueves gordo (Fat Thursday). It ends on the following Tuesday, which is called Carnival Tuesday.This festival is called Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) in France, the United States (especially New Orleans) and Brazil; in the UK and other English-speaking countries this festival is called Pancake Tuesday or Shrove Tuesday. The origins of the word “carnival” may be the Latin carnelevarium, the prohibition of eating meat during Lent, or it may be related to carrus navalis (boat on wheels) that carried Bacchus during the Roman Bacchanalia festival. This celebration varies a lot; each city has its own characteristics and customs, but in general it involves costumes, music, parades and street parties. In Spain two cities are noted for their different ways of celebrating Carnival. The Carnival of Cádiz and the Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife have been declared Fiestas of International Tourist Interest by the Government of Spain. The festival is also important in Águilas, Murcia and other cities such as Badajoz and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The Carnival of Cádiz is different from other Carnivals because its flair and sense of humour. People come out on the street wearing funny and very original costumes. In the Gran Teatro Falla (named for the musician Manuel de Falla, who was born in Cádiz) there are musical competitions among groups singing satirical songs or serious songs in praise of the city of Cádiz. The groups include chirigotas, comparsas, coros and cuartetos. The chirigotas are the most entertaining because of their lyrics and their costumes; they usually use satire to criticise current social or political events. But they can be heard outside the theatre too; there are many groups that come out to sing in the street, and people wearing costumes listen to their songs in a joyful and amusing party atmosphere. The Carnival of Tenerife is influenced by the Brazilian Carnival. It is noted for its colourful parade, rhythm and imagination. During the Gran Gala Carnival Queen is chosen, a beautiful young woman who is the centre of attention during the parade, wearing a huge fantastical costume. This gala to choose the Carnival Queen is broadcast on television and is one of the most anticipated and important events of the city. But this Carnival is also celebrated in the street. La Plaza de España de Santa Cruz is decorated and is full of refreshment stands or churrerías, and people go there to enjoy music in a festive atmosphere. Carnival Tuesday is the

13 de February de 2023

Christmas in Spain and other Hispanic countries

Learn some words and phrases related to Christmas in the Hispanic world. Before reading this blogpost, we suggest you view our video and the related blogpost about El Gordo (The Christmas lottery). Real Spanish: for people who are serious about improving their Spanish. Click here to view all our materials. One of the most characteristic things about Christmas in Spain is the belén (Nativity scene), also known as the pesebre (manger), or nacimiento (birth). The belén can be seen in December in many homes and businesses. However, its origin is not Spanish; King Carlos III of Spain brought the tradition from Naples. But the belén is a tradition not only in Spain but also in many Latin American countries as well as Naples, the south of France, Poland… Portal de Belén In Cataluña it’s traditional to display the figure of the caganer (shitter) doing his business in the fields. This figure is a symbol of fertility and prosperity and is supposed to bring good luck in the year ahead. You can see Christmas trees in many homes and commercial establishments as well as in public spaces such as plazas and local monuments. They are decorated with garlands, baubles, and lights, with a star at the top. Caganer Árbol de Navidad In Spain Christmas is mainly celebrated the evening of December 24th, the day of Nochebuena (Good Night). The whole family gathers to enjoy a special dinner. The dishes vary according to the region; some people like to full the table with delicious tapas, while others prefer a more formal dinner with first course, second course (fish or meat), and dessert. The important thing is to eat something special, something we don’t eat often. Typical sweets in Spain include turrón, mazapanes and polvorones. Turron Mazapan Polvorones In Latin America turkey is very popular, and panetón or sweet bread is a typical dessert. But every country has its own traditional foods. On Nochebuena people often sing villancicos (Christmas carols) accompanied by the tambourine and the zambomba, a kind of drum. Zambombas y Panderetas - "Ambiente navideño en las calles de Madrid" by M. Martin Vicente is licensed under CC BY 2.0 Speaking of the zambomba, we should mention the Zambomba Jerezana (in Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz), a popular celebration that has been recognised as a cultural asset. It originated in the 18th century, when neighbours used to meet in the interior patios of their buildings, to sing and to share food and drink. Zambombas Jerezanas - "Zambomba 2016 de la Fundación Cajasol en Jerez" by fundacioncajasol is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 At twelve o’clock the midnight Mass is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus; however, attendance at Mass is less and less common among Spaniards. Finally, you probably already know that in Spain gifts are traditionally exchanged not at Christmas but on January 6, the day of the Three Wise Men. Links to articles and videos: Recommended video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQx7KGOoI9Y (short version of the above): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K3b34NALeg Information based on: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zambomba

8 de December de 2022

¿Coche o carro? y otros diferences entre el español de España y el de las Américas

In this video, Virginia explains some of the differences between the Spanish of Spain and Latin America Spanish. This is the first of a series of videos on this topic. Hello and welcome to Real Spanish! I’m sure you already know that the Spanish that’s spoken in Spain is not the same as the Spanish spoken in Latin America. The accents and many words vary from country to country, and even among different parts of the same country. Also, some grammatical forms vary. Argentinian Spanish is very different from Colombian Spanish, and Andalusian Spanish is quite different from the Spanish spoken in Madrid. Normally you’ll understand and be understood in any Spanish-speaking country… although it’s good to know some words that can cause confusion or embarrassment. For example, the verb «coger», in common use in Spain, has sexual connotations in some Latin American countries. Another dangerous word: in Spain «Concha» is a common female name. It's not a reference to seashells that you find on the beach; it’s the diminutive of the name Concepción. But watch out! In Latin America, «concha» may refer to the exterior part of the vagina. In Argentina it’s very common to say, «¡La concha de tu madre!», as an expression of anger. In Spain it’s more common to say «¡Hijo de puta!» or «¡La madre que te parió!». Here are some less risky examples: El zumo in Spain is jugo in Latin America El móvil is a celular in Latin America El ordenador is a computadora in Latin America Las gafas are anteojos in Latin America (because you wear them in front of your eyes) El coche es el carro o el auto in Latin America. In Spain, el carro is a cart or trolley in a supermarket. In some of our courses and mini-lessons we have examples of Spanish from various places, to help you to understand native speakers, wherever they are from. For example, in this clip, one of the characters is from Argentina, while the other is from Galicia, in Spain. Listen: - Hombre, yo era director de un banco, de esas cosas entiendo algo. - ¡Che! ¡Director de banco! ¡Qué bárbaro! ¿Vos qué sos, otro Rockefeller? One of these days I’ll bring you other examples of the different varieties of Spanish. Bye for now!We plan to publish more videos about some of the differences between different varieties of Spanish. Follow us on YouTube so you don't miss them! Please leave us a comment, a question, or a suggestion: we'd love to hear from you! Enjoy your Spanish with us! Click below to learn more about all our great materials. Real Spanish: online Spanish courses and minilessons for people who are serious about improving their Spanish Click here to learn more about all our great materials

20 de August de 2022

¡Dígame! Cómo hacer una llamada telefónica en español

Have you ever had to make or aswer a call in Spanish? Stressful, right? In this video Miguel explains some words and phrases that can help you. Transcription: Hi! Have you ever had to answer the phone or make a call in Spanish? I’m sure you have felt a bit stressed, right? To answer a call in Spain we normally use “¿Sí?” or “¿Dígame?” or “¿Diga?” But also in Latin America you can use “¿Bueno?” or “¿Aló?”. When you call and someone picks up, you just say hello and ask for the person you want to talk to. For example: In a formal way, it could be: Good morning, could I speak with Mrs. Martinez? While in an informal way, it could be: Hello, is Paula there? It is also possible that the other person asks you to wait: I'll transfer you right away Please wait, don't hang up. Wait just a moment, please While an informal way, it could be: Hold on, here he/she is. We have a mini-lesson with more guidelines for talking on the phone, plus a blog post. Click below to find out more. Bye! The blog entry below deals with this topic in more depth. To view the transciption or the blog in Spanish, click «español» in the main menu bar above. And to learn more about the related mini-lesson, click below. ¡Dígame! How to make a phone call in Spanish Making a phone call in a foreign language can be very stressful and upsetting when you can’t communicate well with the other person. In fact, this is one of the most difficult interactions in another language and can be very frustrating. First you have to keep in mind the person you are calling, because the level of formality is important. Then you need to think about the purpose of your call; calling to complain about poor professional service is not the same as calling to get an appointment with your doctor, dentist, etc. And calling a friend is more informal still. Below we give you some examples to help you in different situations. If you are making a call in Spain you don’t need to introduce yourself right away. You start by asking for the person you want to speak to. 1. At the beginning of the call: the other person picks up and starts to speak Formal Informal - Buenos días, le atiende María, ¿en qué puedo ayudarle? - Buenos días, Seguros Generales, ¿dígame? - In Spain: ¿Sí? /¿Dígame?/ ¿Diga? - In Latin America: ¿Aló?/ ¿Bueno? 2. The caller replies Formal Informal - Hola, ¿podría hablar con el Sr. Ruiz? - Hola, llamaba por un problema que tengo con mi seguro del hogar. - Hola, quería hacer una reclamación/ preguntar …. - Buenos días, ¿me pone con el departamento de ventas, por favor? - Me gustaría hablar con … - Hola, llamaba para pedir cita/para hacer una reserva. - Hola, ¿está Juan? - Hola Marta, soy Paz, te llamaba por si

25 de June de 2022

All Saints Day: November 1

All Saints day is celebrated throughout Spain and in most Latin American countries. These days Spain is a secular country, but this date is still important in Spanish culture. On this day many families, Christian or not, commemorate their ancestors and all their loved ones who have died. Many go to the cemetery to clean and decorate the tombs or niches where they are buried. In all the churches there are special masses, and the cemeteries are filled with colourful flowers. Nichos It’s not a very sad day. It is certainly a day of reflection, but at the same time a celebration of the lives of the dead, even with a bit of humour. People celebrate by eating a sweet known as “saints’ bones” because of their shape and colour. They also make other sweets such as panellets. These are typical of Catalonia and are made with almonds, which are harvested at this time. In the street, you can also buy roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes. Huesos de santos Panellets Castañas asadas Boniatos In Latin American countries this day is celebrated in different ways. In Mexico it was celebrated before the arrival of the Spanish; that is, it’s a Pre-Columbian ritual. In Pre-Columbian Mexican culture, there was a practice of preserving the skulls of the dead and displaying them during the rituals that symbolised death. These days people make sweets in the shape of skulls, eat “bread of the dead”, and set up altars with candles and offerings such as plates of food. Calaveras mexicanas Pan de muerto These days Halloween is increasingly celebrated, but it is not a traditional celebration of the Hispanic world. Truco o trato

11 de October de 2021

Fiesta nacional de España: Saturday October 12

Spain’s national holiday celebrates the “discovery” (although nowadays we recognise that a better term might be “invasion” or a “conquest”) of the Americas and the creation of Hispanic culture. It’s also known as el Día de la Hispanidad (Day of the Hispanic identity), because it is also celebrated in Latin America under various names: Día del Encuentro de Dos Mundos (Chile), Día de los Pueblos Originarios y del Diálogo Intercultural (Peru), Día del Respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (Argentina), Día de la Raza (Honduras, El Salvador). In the USA it’s celebrated as Columbus Day. In Canada it falls on the same day as Thanksgiving. Speaking about Columbus: This statue is emblematic of Barcelona. Strangely, the statue is pointing in the wrong direction, towards the Mediterranean, to the east— and Columbus didn’t set sail from Barcelona.(Statue of Cristóbal Colón in Barcelona) Las Américas By the way, in Spanish “América” often means what people in many other countries call “The Americas” or North, Central, and South America. USA And although this country is often called America in colloquial language, its formal name is Estados Unidos, with the initials EEUU. The letters are duplicated to indicate the plural form. National Holiday To get back to the Fiesta Nacional in Spain: traditionally it includes a military parade attended by the king and other members of the royal family, along with the President and other representatives of the central government, as well as representatives of the autonomous communities of Spain. La Virgen del Pilar In Spain the date coincides with the Fiesta del Pilar, in honour of the patron saint of Hispanidad. This is a statue of the Virgin of Pilar, decorated with flowers, during the celebration of this day in Zaragoza. Happy Party!

10 de October de 2021