Name: _____________________________

Date: ________________

¡Feliz Navidad!
Christmas in Spanish-Speaking Countries
Directions: Read each article about how Christmas is celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries
around the world and answer the questions that follow.

Article 1: Christmas in Mexico

"La Posadas," the remarkable buildup to Christmas Eve, is perhaps the most delightful and
unique Mexican tradition. Beginning December 16th, it commemorates the events in the journey
of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

After dark, each night of the "Posada," (inn) a procession begins led by two children. The
children carry a small pine-decorated platform bearing replicas of Joseph and Mary riding a burro.
Other members of the company, all with lighted long slender candles, sing the "Litany of the
Virgin" as they approach the door of the house assigned to the first "Posada." Together they chant
an old traditional song and awaken the mast of the house to ask lodging for Mary. Those within the
house threaten the company with beatings unless they move on. Again, the company pleads for
admittance. When the owner of the house finally learns who his guests are, he jubilantly throws
open the doors and bids them welcome. All kneel around the manger scene or "Nacimiento"
(“birth”) and offer songs of welcome, Ave Marias and a prayer.

Now it's time of the "Piñata," refreshments and

dancing. The "Piñata" is a pottery (or paper) container,
brightly decorated and filled with candy and toys. It is
hung from the ceiling or a tree. One by one, the children
are blindfolded, turned around and instructed to strike
the Piñata with a stick. Usually several attempts are made
before the container is broken. Of course, when that
happens, there is an explosion of goodies and a scattering
of children.

At midnight on Christmas Eve (La Nochebuena or

Good night) the birth of Christ is announced with fireworks, ringing bells and blowing whistles.
Devout worshipers surge into churches to attend the famous "Misa de Gallo" or "Mass of the
Rooster." It is called this because a rooster is supposed to have crowed the night that Jesus was
born. Following Mass, families return home for a tremendous dinner of traditional Mexican foods.
The dishes vary with the different regions. However, somewhat common are the "tamales," rice,
rellenos, "atole" (a sweet traditional drink) and "menudo," which is said to be more sobering than
strong coffee.
Sources: http://www.californiamall.com/holidaytraditions/traditions-mexico.htm
Article 1 Questions:

1. When does the tradition of Las Posadas begin? _______________________________________

2. Las Posadas is a re-enactment of what famous story? ____________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. What foods and drinks are traditionally served for Christmas dinner?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
4. How is the arrival of Christmas typically announced?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Write the English meaning of the following words:
 Posada _________________________________________________________
 Nacimiento ____________________________________________________
 Misa de Gallo __________________________________________________
 La Nochebuena: _______________________________________________

Article 2: Spain - Christmas traditions & customs

Christmas (La Navidad) is a deeply
religious holiday in Spain. The country's patron
saint is the Virgin Mary and the Christmas
season officially begins December 8, the feast of
the Immaculate Conception. It is celebrated each
year in front of the great Gothic cathedral in
Seville with a ceremony called los Seises or the
"dance of six." Oddly, the elaborate ritual dance
is now performed by not six but ten elaborately
costumed boys. It is a series of precise
Source:http://sevilla.abc.es/sevilla/20140302/sevi
movements and gestures and is said to be quite
-seises-baile-cuaresma-201402281837.html
moving and beautiful.

In Spain it is a very festive time at Christmas. On Christmas Eve, as the stars come out, tiny
oil lamps are lit in every house, and after Midnight Mass and Christmas Dinner, streets fill with
dancers and onlookers. There is a special Christmas dance called the Jota and the words and music
have been handed down for hundreds of years. They dance to the sound of guitars and castanets.

Most homes have a manger, like cathedrals and churches. These are complete with carved
figures. Children think of the Three Wise Man as the gift bearers. Tradition has it that they arrive
on January 6th, the date the Wise Men gave gifts to Jesus. The Spanish especially honor the cow at
Christmas because it is thought that when Mary gave birth to Jesus the cow in the stable breathed
on the Baby Jesus to keep him warm.
 Shoes are filled with straw or barley for the tired camels that must carry their riders
through the busy night. By morning the camel food is gone and in place of the straw or barley are
presents. Shoes also may be placed on balconies on the night of the 6th January in the hope that
the Wise Men will fill them with gifts.

Christmas Eve is known as Nochebuena or "the Good Night." It is a time for family members
to gather together to rejoice and feast around the Nativity scenes that are present in nearly every
home. A traditional Christmas treat is turron, a kind of almond candy. The family gather to
celebrate and eat snacks. At midnight, they attend the misa de gallo which celebrates the moment
of Christ's birth. After this mass, at 1am, they return home to Christmas dinner and the opening of
the presents.

The children of Spain receive gifts on the feast of the Epiphany. The Magi are particularly
revered in Spain. It is believed that they travel through the countryside reenacting their journey to
Bethlehem every year at this time. Children leave their shoes on the windowsills and fill them with
straw, carrots, and barley or the horses of the Wise Men. Their favorite is Balthazar who rides a
donkey and is the one believed to leave the gifts.

The Spanish Christmas is Navidad, people go to church, exchange presents, and many play
on swing sets set up specially for the occasion. Swinging at solstice time evokes an ancient desire
to encourage the sun, urging it to "swing" ever higher in the sky.

Source: http://www.thehistoryofchristmas.com/traditions/spain.htm

Article 2 Questions:

1. What date does the Christmas season officially begin in Spain? _________________________
2. What time does the family eat Christmas dinner and open their gifts?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why is the cow an especially honored figure in Spanish celebrations?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why are shoes filled with straw and camel food and placed outside?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Has your family ever left treats out for someone on Christmas Eve? Who?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
6. What is the significance of the swings used on Christmas? ______________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
 Article 3: Christmas in Spanish-speaking Countries
CHILE

Chile's gift-bringer is called Viejo Pascuero (Old Man

Christmas) who will wish everyone a Feliz Navidad (a Happy
Christmas) y un Prospero Año Nuevo (and a Prosperous New
Year). He strongly resembles Santa Claus and likewise comes
drawn by reindeer. However, as chimneys are less than
roomy in this warm climate, he contents himself with
climbing a window. As in all Latin America, the manger scene
is the center of festivities, and small clay figurines (called
pesebre) are placed under every Christmas tree. Following
the midnight Misa de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster), the
Christmas Eve meal often includes cazuela de ave (chicken
cazuela), a chicken soup filled with potatoes, onions and corn
on the cob; and pan de pascua, a Christmas bread filled with
Pan de Pascua
candies and fruit.

COLOMBIA

The Christmas season in Colombia starts on December 7 when families light candles in
honor of the Virgin Mary. The church celebrates December 8 as the day of the Immaculate
Conception. This is a Colombian National Holiday and a day of Obligation with the church. It is
celebrated with a display of lights as each home will light approximately 100 candles on the curb
and sidewalk area.

On December 16, Colombian families typically start setting up the Christmas tree which is
artificial for ecological reasons. The Christmas tree is decorated with lights and bowls. From
December 16 through December 24, families usually gather together at night around Nativity
scenes to pray and sing carols in the Novena de Aguinaldos. On Christmas Eve family members
and neighbors gather to eat and dance. Traditional Colombian foods include: ajiaco (a soup with
potatoes), chicken and natilla (a corn based dessert) and buñuelos. Everyone waits until midnight
to wish each other Merry Christmas and to exchange gifts. Traditionally, El Niño Jesus, the Christ
Child, is the one who would bring you the gifts. But recently Santa Claus has been introduced as a
gift-giver as well. Children get up on Christmas morning and find gifts at the foot of their beds.

HONDURAS

Hondurans party in their homes, jobs, clubs, bars, and even in churches. It doesn’t matter
what their social position or religion is, people everywhere prepare for several weeks before
Christmas Day. They prepare parties for their families, friends and co-workers and have several
traditional foods like pork, tamales, eggnog, drinks and aguardiente.

They usually have a dinner with the family. Then they drop by the homes of their friends
and neighbors to drink, eat and dance. They usually end up stuffed with delicious food and drink,
then at 12 o’clock they all hug and say Feliz Navidad (Merry Christmas) to each other. At the same
time, firecrackers and cherry bombs are exploding everywhere. It looks like a battlefield. After 12
o’clock, the young people usually go to bars to drink and dance until the sun comes up.

VENEZUELA

In Venezuela on December 16th families bring out their pesebres (mangers) which is a
specially designed and thought out depiction of the nativity scene. Venezuelans attend an early
morning church service daily between December 16th and 24th. This is called Misa de Aguinaldo
(Early Morning Mass). In Caracas, the capital city, it is customary to roller-skate to this service, and
many neighborhoods close the streets to cars until 8 a.m.

Before bedtime children tie one end of a piece of string to their big toe and hang the other
out the window. The next morning, roller skaters give a tug to any string they see hanging.

On January 6th when the children are awakened, they will discover that the straw that they
had left beside their bed the night before has gone, and in its place they can find gifts. The children
know that the Magi and their camels have been at home. When they look themselves in the mirror
and see a black smudge on their cheek they know that Balthazar, King of the Ethiopians has kissed
them whilst they slept.

Source: http://www.ompersonal.com.ar/omchristmas2/christmas.htm

Article 3 Questions:

1. Who is the man that brings gifts in Chile? How does he enter the house?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2. What is a Pan de Pascua?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
3. In Colombia, when do families exchange gifts?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Why does the author say the celebrations look almost “like a battlefield” in Honduras?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What traditional foods and drinks are served on Christmas Eve in Honduras?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. In Caracas, Venezuela, how do people typically arrive to mass? ________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
7. When do the Magi pass through Venezuela? What do they leave behind?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. Write the meaning of the words and phrases in English:
 Feliz Navidad ________________________________________________
 Pesebres _________________________________________________
 Misa de Aguinaldo ___________________________________________
Venn Diagram: Choose any one of the countries listed in the three articles. Write one similarity
and three differences between the way this country celebrates Christmas versus the way we
celebrate in the United States.

United States Country: ________________________________

similarity
 Crossword

Across Down

1. Name of the early morning mass 1. Inn in Spanish

in Venezuela 2. Merry Christmas in Spanish
2. Children of Spain receive gifts on 3. Container, brightly decorated and
the feast of the _____________. filled with candy and toys
3. Children leave straw and food for 4. Christmas Eve
camels inside 5. Mass of the Rooster in Spanish
_______________. 6. A Christmas bread filled with
4. An almond candy served in Spain candies and fruit