The vocabulary of Christmas (Navidad)
Homepage: http://www.lingolex.com/spanish.htm
The vocabulary of Christmas (Navidad)
Homepage: http://www.lingolex.com/spanish.htm
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Introduction: The
principle difference between a Spanish Christmas and the Anglo Saxon version
is the importance of the 6th January. In Spain this is when presents are
given and the three "magic" kings give the presents not father
Christmas. In recent years many families have started to give their children
their presents on Chistmas Eve, although this is changing because children
have to go to school on the 7th and they don't have time to play with
their presents. Most families have a "belén" (nativity
scene) on display in their house. Families eat together on Cristmas eve
and they often eat a stuffed turkey which has the bones removed which
requires the skill of a micro-surgeon to prepare. Christmas is less commercial
in Spain and the build up does not start until much later.
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Spanish
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English
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DIAS FESTIVOS
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| Nochebuena | Christmas Eve |
| Día de navidad | Christmas Day |
| Año Nuevo | New Year |
| Nochevieja | New Year's Eve |
| El día de año nuevo | New Year's Day |
| las vacaciones de Navidad | the Christmas holidays |
| las Navidades / la Navidad | Yuletide |
| el Día de Reyes | 6th January (the day when presents are traditionally given in Spanish-speaking countries) |
| la Noche de Reyes | Twelfth Night |
| el Día de los Santos Inocentes | 28th December (similar to April Fool's Day) |
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COSAS NAVIDEÑAS
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| regalo de navidad | Christmas present |
| adornos de Navidad | Christmas decorations |
| un ramo de Navidad | a Christmas wreath |
| el muérdago | mistletoe |
| el acebo | holly |
| flor de Navidad | poinsettia |
| la comida de Navidad | Christmas dinner |
| una tarjeta de Navidad, un crismas | a Chrstmas card |
| Árbol de navidad | Christmas tree |
| el espumillón | tinsel |
| un calendario de Adviento | Advent calendar |
| un pesebre | a crib |
| la misa del gallo | Midnight Mass |
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un villancico |
Christmas carol |
| adorno (Árbol de navidad) | bauble |
| Baltasar, Gaspar, Melchor | Balthasar, Gaspar, Melchior |
| los Reyes Magos | the Three Kings, the Three Wise Men |
| tomar las uvas | to see the New Year in. (in Spain a grape is eaten for each stroke of the clock at 12pm on December 31st. Each grape is supposed to represent one month of the new year) |
| un auto de Navidad | a nativity play |
| ¡Feliz Navidad! / ¡Felices Pascuas! | Happy Christmas |
| ¡Felices fiestas! | Season's greetings! |
| ¡Feliz Navidad y Próspero Año Nuevo! | Merry Christmas and a Prosperous / Happy New Year! |
| ¿Qué te regalaron para Navidad? | What did you get for Christmas? |
| La Navidad está en puertas | Christmas is just around the corner |
| Los preparativos de la Navidad empiezan en octubre | The buildup to Christmas starts in October |
| el espíritu navideño | the Christmas spirit |
| oro | gold |
| incienso | frankincense |
| mirra | myrrh |
| Jerusalén | Jerusalem |
| la cabalgata | On 6th January there is a Christmas parade, the principal characters are the "magic kings" who drive around the city on a float and shower the children and people with sweets and other presents. |
| un belén (Belén = Bethlehem) | a nativity scene |
| José | Joseph |
| la Virgen María | Mary |
| el niño Jesús | (baby) Jesus |
| los pastores | shepherds |
| los ángeles | angels |
| un burro | a donkey |
| Papá Noel | Father Christmas |
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COMIDA
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| un tronco de Navidad | a Christmas yule log |
| un pastel de Navidad | a Christmas cake |
| el pavo | turkey |
| langostinos | king prawns |
| mantecados | traditional Christmas sweet made mainly from lard and almonds very similar to a "polvorón" |
| polvorones | a typical Spanish sweet, dry and powdery and made with almonds |
| una rosca de Reyes / un roscón de Reyes | a large, round bun baked for 6th January with candied fruits and things hidden (coins, etc.) inside |
| turrón turrón blando turrón duro turrón de chocolate |
a typical
Spanish sweet eaten at Christmas made with ground almonds hard and nougat-like made with chocolate and puffed rice |
| mazapán | marzipan |
| una cesta de Navidad | a Christmas hamper |
| (una copa de) cava | (a glass of) Spanish sparkling wine, similar to champagne |
| el Gordo | Massive Christmas lottery which takes place on 22nd December, almost everyone buys a ticket. The results are sang by children as the balls come out of the machine. |
Homepage: http://www.lingolex.com/spanish.htm
