La Navidad

As the vast majority of Hispanics are Catholic, Christmas is an important cultural celebration and is celebrated in many different ways in Spanish speaking countries. Most of these countries have unique activities or foods that we do not have here in The United States. Use the followinglinks to answer the questions about how Christmas is celebrated in many Spanish-speaking countries.Use the websites listed to find the answers to the questions. Be prepared to discuss what you have discovered.

You can use these site to find out about many countries—

España--

  1. What is “Hogueras” and when and where is it celebrated?
  2. What is the name of Christmas Eve mass?
  3. What is a tradition peculiar to Spain?
  4. Who brings the Christmas presents to children in Spain?
  5. When do Spanish children receive their gifts?

México---

1.What are “Las Posadas”?

2.What is different about las posadas on the ninth night?

3.What is “la Noche de las Rabanos”?

Puerto Rico---

  1. What are “estrellitas”?
  2. What do Puerto Ricans eat at midnight on New Years eve?

Costa Rica--

  1. What plants do Costa Ricans use to do their decorating at Christmas?
  2. Who used to bring the children gifts before Santa Claus?
  3. What do working adults receive from their employers?

Panama---

  1. When do the Christmas festivities begin?
  2. What are some traditional Panamanian Christmas foods?
  3. What are the outfits that the men and women where on the floats?

Guatemala---

  1. What happens at midnight on Christmas Eve in Guatemala?
  2. When do adults exchange gifts?
  3. Who brought the Christmas tree to Guatemala?

Colombia---

  1. How is “El dia de las Velitas” celbrated?
  2. Who do the Colombian children write letters to?
  3. What are some traditional Colombian foods?
  4. What are “voladores”?

Venezuela--

  1. What are “pesebres”?
  2. What are “hallacas”?
  3. What is the unique way that people of Caracas to get to mass on Christmas morning?
  4. What do people do on their way to mass to those that are still sleeping?

Ecuador---

  1. What does “Cuenca” mean?
  2. What is the name of the special cookie that is shared on Christmas day?
  3. What is “Pas del Niño parade”?

Perú---

  1. What special foodis eaten on January 6th in Peru, and what is the unusual ingredient in it?
  2. What is the main focus of Nativity scenes in Peru?
  3. What are retables?
  4. When were the first Christmas trees brought in to homes and what country started this tradition? (It’s not a Spanish speaking country )

Argentina---

  1. List 3 Christmas Eve traditions in Argentina.
  2. What do some Argentineans decorate their Christmas trees with?
  3. What are some of the dishes eaten in Argentina?
  4. Why do the children in Argentina leave out hay and water on the eve of January 6th?

BONUS QUESTION

What is the Spanish name for poinsettias?

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