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Holiday Traditions in Hispanic Countries

This document discusses several holiday traditions in Hispanic cultures, including Las Posadas, Christmas, La Tomatina, and Dia de los Muertos. Las Posadas is a Mexican tradition celebrated from December 16-24 where people reenact Mary and Joseph seeking lodging. Christmas traditions vary but often involve gifts from the Three Wise Men or Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. La Tomatina is a tomato fight festival in Spain. Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday in November to remember and celebrate the dead.

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157 views13 pages

Holiday Traditions in Hispanic Countries

This document discusses several holiday traditions in Hispanic cultures, including Las Posadas, Christmas, La Tomatina, and Dia de los Muertos. Las Posadas is a Mexican tradition celebrated from December 16-24 where people reenact Mary and Joseph seeking lodging. Christmas traditions vary but often involve gifts from the Three Wise Men or Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. La Tomatina is a tomato fight festival in Spain. Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican holiday in November to remember and celebrate the dead.

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Holiday Traditions in

Hispanic Cultures
Señor Susalla y Señorita Russi
American holiday traditions
● What are some common, important holiday traditions in U.S. culture?
● Think about items and events - what comes to mind when you think of
Christmas? Easter? Halloween? Thanksgiving? Other holidays?
● Now imagine you’re from another country and you’re being introduced to U.S.
culture for the first time. Which holiday traditions seem unusual to you? Those
of you born outside of the U.S. - which holiday traditions seemed unusual to
you when you first heard of them?
There is no such thing as a “default”
culture!
● The human brain is wired to think of our own experience as “normal” and
other experiences as variations on that norm. This is untrue!
● What seems normal to one person can be strange to another, and vice versa!
● Every culture has its own traditions, and none of them are “right” or “wrong”.
● It’s also important to remember that, even within one country, traditions will
vary. Not everything we go over today will apply to every Spanish speaking
country, or even every part of a particular country!
What are some of your own holiday
traditions?
● Everyone has different traditions - what are some things your family does to
celebrate the holidays?
● Where do these traditions come from? Are they from a certain culture? Or is it
just something your family does?
Las Posadas
● “Las Posadas”, meaning “the lodgings”, is a tradition in many hispanic
countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, and Spain.
● The celebrations begin on December 16th and lead up to December 24th,
Christmas Eve.
● Traditions include prayer, re-enactment of nativity scenes, and piñatas.
● Actors playing the parts of Mary and Joseph will travel to pre-designated
houses to ask for lodgings. Guests are invited in for food and prayer.
● Poinsettia flowers are an important symbol of the celebrations.
Christmas (La Navidad)
● Christmas can vary wildly between Spanish speaking countries.
● While many Spanish speaking countries, like Mexico, have Santa Claus
(Santa Clós) bring presents on Christmas Eve, others like Spain have the
Three Wise Men bring presents on Epiphany (January 6th, the “12th Day of
Christmas”). Still others have both!
● Typically, though, in countries that do have Santa Clós, gifts are opened on
Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day.
● In Mexico, Spain, and Argentina, on Epiphany guests will eat a special bread
called “rosca de reyes”, or “ring of kings”, which I will tell you about on the
next slide.
La Tomatina
● On the last Wednesday in August, in the Spanish town of Buñol, the world’s
largest tomato fight is held every year.
● The festival began in 1945 when a tomato stand was accidentally knocked
over during a parade. Participants began throwing the tomatoes at each
other, sparking the annual tradition.
● The festival was outlawed until 1957, when, in protest, townspeople held a
mock funeral for a tomato, complete with a coffin and funeral march.
● After the festival, fire hoses are used to wash away the tomatoes. The citric
acid in the tomato juice actually helps to clean the streets.
Dia de los Muertos
● Dia de los Muertos is a primarily Mexican holiday, for celebrating and
remembering the dead.
● It may have its origins in native Aztec religion, combining native iconography
with the Catholic All Saints’ Day.
● It takes place from November 1st to November 2nd, with November 1st
dedicated specifically to “los angelitos” - children who died young.
● Traditions vary greatly across the country of Mexico, but marigolds, ofrendas,
and sugar skulls are all common elements.
● Families celebrate in graveyards near their relatives’ graves with music, food,
and drinks.
Questions...
● Which Hispanic holidays would you want to participate in? Why?
● How are Hispanic holidays and cultural traditions similar to your own?
● How are they different?

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