Holidays in Spanish Speaking Countries

Holidays in Spansih Speaking Countries

Spanish Cultural Studies 2022-2023

Open Ended

What are some holidays or traditions that you have learned about this week?

Before going to bed, the children place their old shoes with a wish list on top for the Three Kings. In the morning, the shoes are filled with toys and gifts from the Three Kings.

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https://youtu.be/D_8ytjHa0ys​

​January 5-6

Dias de los Reyes Magos​

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Open Ended

Does this compare to any American holidays? Which ones?

The religious processions are the main part of Semana Santa. These go on all week and consist of many people parading through the streets in colourful costumes, carrying huge floats, and mourning the death of Christ. Brass bands and drummers are also in accompaniment.

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https://youtu.be/lhQ1rQBh7kg​

​La Semana Santa

Open Ended

What caught your eye about easter in Spain?

Multiple Choice

How long is semana santa in Spain?

• 5 days

• 1 month

• 3 weeks

• 7 days

Each year, Antigua covers its streets in intricate alfombras, or carpets, during Semana Santa in preparation for the city's processions on Good Friday.

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​Some text here about the topic of discussion.

​La Alfombras

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Open Ended

Why do you think Spanish Speaking countries have so many traditions and holidays surrounding religion?

Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army's May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day, which falls on Thursday, May 5 in 2022, is also known as Battle of Puebla Day.

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Cinco de Mayo is not an independence day!!!!

​Cinco de Mayo

Multiple Choice

Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day.

• True

• False

Since 1945, visitors worldwide have traveled to the town of Buñol, Spain to take part in a holiday known as La Tomatina. Legend says that this festival was born from a political protest in the 1940s after two men began throwing tomatoes at buildings as a form of protest. Eventually, the act became a yearly tradition that turned into a citywide food fight just for the fun of it.

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Outlawed by Franco, came back after his death

​La Tomatina

Poll

Do you think there are any holidays similar to this in the USA?

• YES

• NO

​Yes, there are actually a few...

Often celebrated in conjunction with el Día de Todos los Santos(All Saints’ Day), which takes place on November 1st, el Día de Muertos(Day of the Dead) is celebrated on November 2nd. Rather than being a spooky holiday, el Día de Muertos is seen as a time to celebrate family members, friends, and historical figures who have passed away.

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Originally an Aztec Tradition

https://youtu.be/jCQnUuq-TEE​

Dia de los Muertos

Multiple Choice

Who started the tradition of Dia de los Muertos?

• Columbus

• Aztecs

• Incas

• The church

Multiple Choice

What month was it originally celebrated in?

• October

• August

• May

• November

Commemorating Mary and Joseph's journey to Bethlehem as they searched for a place to stay, las Posadas(literally, the Inns) is a yuletide celebration that takes place between December 16th and December 24th. During this nine-day period, it is common for friends and family to invite one another to a posada, which is essentially a sort of Christmas party, or for people to walk through their neighborhood and pedir posada(to ask for room at the inn). To pedir posada, a group of people accompanied by a couple representing Mary and Joseph go from door to door singing and asking for lodging. Their neighbors respond by denying them a place to stay until at last someone opens up their doors to the wandering group. Once inside, they are traditionally invited to take turns trying to break a piñata, which is filled with candy, fruit, and nuts, and to warm up with ponche(Christmas punch) and tamales.​

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​Las Posadas

more bizzare festivals

https://youtu.be/T0Q-1OwFFVs​