{"id":571,"date":"2022-12-08T16:29:24","date_gmt":"2022-12-08T16:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realspanish.eu\/?p=571"},"modified":"2025-12-25T18:46:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-25T18:46:32","slug":"christmas-spain-hispanic-countries","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realspanish.eu\/en\/blog\/cultural-notes\/christmas-spain-hispanic-countries\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas in Spain and other Hispanic countries"},"content":{"rendered":"

Learn some words and phrases related to Christmas in the Hispanic world. Before reading this blogpost, we suggest you view <\/span>our video<\/strong> <\/span><\/a>and the related blogpost<\/a> <\/strong>about El Gordo<\/span> (The Christmas lottery).<\/span><\/p>\n

Real Spanish: for people who are serious about improving their Spanish.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Click here<\/strong><\/a><\/span> to view all our materials.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the most characteristic things about Christmas in Spain is the bel\u00e9n (Nativity scene), also known as the pesebre (manger), or nacimiento (birth). The bel\u00e9n 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 bel\u00e9n is a tradition not only in Spain but also in many Latin American countries as well as Naples, the south of France, Poland\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Navidad
\nPortal de Bel\u00e9n<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In Catalu\u00f1a it\u2019s traditional to display the figure of the caganer<\/em> (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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"Caganer\"
\nCaganer<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\u00c1rbol
\n\u00c1rbol de Navidad<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019t eat often.<\/p>\n

Typical sweets in Spain include turr\u00f3n<\/em>, mazapanes<\/em> and polvorones<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Turron\"
\nTurron<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mazapan\"
\nMazapan<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Polvorones\"
\nPolvorones<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

In Latin America turkey is very popular, and panet\u00f3n or sweet bread is a typical dessert. But every country has its own traditional foods.<\/p>\n

On Nochebuena people often sing villancicos (Christmas carols) accompanied by the tambourine and the zambomba, a kind of drum.<\/p>\n

\"Zambombas
\nZambombas y Panderetas – “Ambiente navide\u00f1o en las calles de Madrid” by M. Martin Vicente is licensed under CC BY 2.0<\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking of the zambomba, we should mention the Zambomba Jerezana (in Jerez de la Frontera, C\u00e1diz), 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.<\/p>\n

\"Zambombas
\nZambombas Jerezanas – “Zambomba 2016 de la Fundaci\u00f3n Cajasol en Jerez” by fundacioncajasol is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 <\/a><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

At twelve o\u2019clock the midnight Mass is celebrated to commemorate the birth of Jesus; however, attendance at Mass is less and less common among Spaniards.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

Links to articles and videos:<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Recommended video: <\/strong> https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=KQx7KGOoI9Y<\/a><\/p>\n

(short version of the above):<\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=-K3b34NALeg<\/a><\/p>\n

Information based on: <\/strong>
\nhttps:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Zambomba<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Belenismo<\/a>
\nhttps:\/\/es.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Misa_de_Gallo<\/a><\/p>\n

Videos of zambombas jerezanas:<\/strong><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=VMPcBhKHr04<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lnvpMr05LeU<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fTRCI3wBSUs<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Hh3X4ptKXCA<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Our online Spanish courses consist of\u00a0video-lessons based on clips from movies and on TV series like \u00abCu\u00e9ntame c\u00f3mo pas\u00f3\u00bb. We focus on authentic, colloquial language spoken at normal native-speaker speed. We also offer an interactive pronunciation module.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>Pr\u00f3ximo estreno:<\/strong> E<\/span>l 17 de diciembre publicamos otra mini-lecci\u00f3n gratuita sobre el a\u00f1o nuevo y el D\u00eda de los Reyes. Cada mini-lessi\u00f3n consta de un v\u00eddeo, una transcripci\u00f3n anotada, un hoja de gram\u00e1tica y algunos ejercicios interactivos. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

S<\/a><\/span>\u00edg<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span>uenos\u00a0<\/strong><\/a><\/span>en YouTube para recibir notificaciones.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Vamos publicando m\u00e1s v\u00eddeos sobre expresiones interesantes, las culturas hisp\u00e1nicas, y varios puntitos de gram\u00e1tica que te ayudar\u00e1n a pulir tu espa\u00f1ol. \u00a1S\u00edg<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/span>uenos\u00a0en Y<\/a><\/span>ouTube<\/a><\/span> <\/strong><\/span>para no perderte ninguno!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Por favor d\u00e9janos un comentario, una sugerencia o una pregunta. Nos encantar\u00eda o\u00edr de ti.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mejora tu espa\u00f1ol con nosotros. Haz clic abajo para informarte sobre todos nuestros materiales.<\/span><\/p>\n

Real Spanish: cursos y minilecciones de espa\u00f1ol online para quienes se toman en serio mejorar su espa\u00f1ol.<\/span><\/p>\n

Haz clic aqu\u00ed para ver todos nuestros materiales geniales<\/a><\/span><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Learn some words and phrases related to Christmas in the Hispanic world. Before reading this blogpost, we suggest you view …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7288,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_vibebp_attr":"","_vibebp_dimensions":"","_vibebp_responsive_height":"","_vibebp_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[349],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-571","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cultural-notes"],"yoast_head":"\nChristmas in Spain and other Hispanic countries - Real Spanish<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When you think of Spanish Christmas, what's the first thing that comes to mind? 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