Discover Spanish Christmas from popular expressions and phrases How we like Christmas! Did you know that you can learn many expressions in Spanish this time of year? Get ready because today we bring you an article loaded with popular expressions and phrases that are said at Christmas. Besides
How we love Christmas!
Did you know that you can learn many expressions in spanish at this time of year?
Get ready because today we bring you an article loaded with popular expressions and phrases that are said at Christmas.
Furthermore, thanks to these expressions you will learn new things about spanish grammar very useful to use in your daily life.
Would you like to learn Spanish with professionals?
Then come to our spanish courses in Hispania, Spanish school.
No matter what level you have, with us you will learn to speak Spanish with a good foundation and a totally communicative approach.
In today's article, you are going to learn spanish expressions about Christmas divided into the following events:
But first, let's talk about why it is so interesting to know these popular phrases.
The expressions that we are going to see below serve to learn grammar and vocabulary in Spanish.
Furthermore, they are also a clear example of our culture, how we speak and think, and Spanish customs at Christmas.
For all this, we think that this article will be of great interest to you.
Do you want to know what these are? original Christmas phrases? Let's go there!
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We have already dedicated an entire article to the Christmas lottery in Spain.
It is an important day in which million-dollar prizes are raffled and it is followed with great attention.
However, due to the high number of people participating, it is very unlikely that you will win a jackpot.
Therefore, the following expressions are often said.
This is one of the famous Christmas phrases in Spain.
The consolation of not having won a prize is this: "At least we are healthy."
"At least" It is a conjunctive phrase that expresses that, although we have not obtained what we wanted, we actually have other good things.
In this case, we have not won the prize, but we are healthy. You always have to see the good side.
This expression is often said jokingly, but it actually makes a lot of sense.
What is more important than health?
It's something we don't value until we get sick. And there we realize how unimportant money was compared to health.
Never forget it!
This is a christmas phrase that causes a lot of laughter.
The stones in the lottery are smaller prizes, 1000 euros for the series and 100 euros for the tenth.
These prizes are much more numerous than the jackpot prizes.
Therefore, if we have not earned a single euro, saying that "we haven't even been hit by stones" means that we have had very bad luck.
If someone tells you this, you're in luck!
It means you are the winner of the lottery jackpot. 🍾
When is there a party on a boat to celebrate?
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The invisible friend is a very typical game at Christmas.
It consists of a group of friends or family having to meet secret gifts.
You don't know who gives it to you. The person you give the gift to doesn't know either.
The invisible friend identity It is revealed on the day the gifts are given.
It's very pretty!
When playing this game, it is very common to hear two phrases:
This is the third time it appears the verb touch in these expressions, so let's explain it.
Touch is normally used to mean that our fingers come into contact with something physical.
But it can also be used in raffles when By chance something is given to us.
In this case, randomly, a person touches us so that we give him a gift.
The question "Who touched you?" It is very common among gossip friends who can't stand the intrigue until the day of the gift-giving.
If you have a friend who asks you this question, don't tell them.
The invisible friend magic It is precisely not knowing who is giving to whom.
Don't let anyone break it!
At the time of doing the invisible gift, in Spain they always remember a money limit that can be spent.
This is done so that there is equity in gifts.
Imagine that, for example, they give you some Christmas socks and you give a tablet.
It wouldn't be very fair, would it? 😅
For this reason, it is always remembered on the day of the draw maximum amount of money.
Normally it is 15 euros, although sometimes it can be less or more, it depends on what the members decide.
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Christmas Eve takes place in the night of December 24.
It is usually the first family dinner and that's why it's very special.
Some expressions that are often said are:
The bonus is one of the Christmas words you may not know.
It is highly anticipated by the children at Christmas Eve dinner in Spain.
It is a small gift that adults give to younger family members.
This gift is usually some money, although sometimes they are also typical Christmas sweets such as nougats or Polvorones.
In Spain, many companies give their employees baskets with food at Christmas.
In these baskets there are usually chocolates, sausages, wine, cava and, if you're lucky, a delicious ham leg!
The truth is that the leg of ham is not common, Therefore, if someone is lucky, they proudly announce it to their relatives:
«This is the ham of the Christmas basket» 😌.
We continue with more original and short Christmas phrases.
Unfortunately, sometimes Christmas Eve family dinners are not as peaceful as anyone might expect.
many times there are arguments or fights between family members. In those situations you can use this phrase: «The Nativity scene was set up».
“Assembling the Nativity scene” means get into a mess or argument.
It refers to the long process of the tradition of setting up the Nativity scene in Spain. The verb assemble in this context is like building or assembling.
In case you don't know, the Bethlehem is a representation of the birth of Jesus with figures and settings that are usually placed on a table in the homes of Spaniards.
If you are interested in knowing more about the nativity scenes, you have a lot of information in our article on Christmas vocabulary in Spanish.
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It is December 25 and Christmas finally arrives.
The Christmas phrases that are said most in Spain are these:
The Christmas in Spain It is celebrated with family.
It is very rare to spend this day alone or with friends.
Therefore, if someone is not clear, there is always the typical uncle or grandfather who remembers it:
«Today is a day to be with family» ☝🏻.
This is one of the funny christmas phrases.
After Christmas lunch with the family, the typical thing is to swell with pollorones and nougat.
What does it mean to "swell up to something"?
It means eat a lot of something until your belly is swollen like a ball.
As you can imagine, doing this is not the healthiest thing in the world.
Although once in a while it doesn't hurt anyone, right? 😏
This is one of the beautiful Christmas phrases.
This Christmas message became fashionable due to a television advertisement in which the brand of a famous nougat was promoted.
In the advertisement, a very catchy song was sung in which it was said «Come back, come home, for Christmas🎶».
Talk about one of the christmas wishes most common: Have a family member visit us for Christmas.
And many times we have loved ones who are away from home, living in other cities or even abroad.
But Christmas is time to be with family and return home, so hence the song.
At Christmas you are like nougat, you come home for Christmas.
Of course, we couldn't leave out one of the most popular Christmas greeting phrases.
Don't you know how to congratulate Christmas in Spanish?
Among the short Christmas phrases, this is the one that is said the most: "Merry Christmas!".
The Christmas messages we send to each other via chat usually end this way.
We have seen before «Assembling the Nativity» like a christmas expression for talk about fights between people.
The one we have now has a similar meaning.
«Getting involved with the Marimorena» has its origin in one of the Spanish Christmas carols most famous: The Marimorena.
The expression anticipates that there is going to be a fight or a very strong discussion.
The word "marimorena" It has the meaning of commotion or commotion
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The December 31It's a very special day. It is the last day of the year and we Spaniards celebrate it in a unique way: taking 12 grapes!
Each grape corresponds to the months of the year, and they are taken right in the last seconds of the year.
Doing it well is considered gives good luck entering the new year.
However, you have to be careful as there may be confusion when taking them. The main problem comes with the rooms.
This is one of the typical Spanish phrases said on New Year's Eve.
The quarters are the 35 seconds just before 00:00 at night.
They are represented with four double chimes to warn people to prepare their grapes.
The problem is that many people think that these are the bells of the grapes and get ahead of themselves.
But nothing happens, there is always someone at home or the television presenter who will remind us: "Don't be confused with the rooms!".
Just after the four double bells they begin the twelve simple chimes.
These really are the grapes, it sounds one every 3 seconds. In each one you have to eat a grape.
Do you think you can do it?
If you want to live a New Year's Eve like a true Spaniard, you have to try it! 😄
The Gate of the Sun is one of the most emblematic places in Madrid. It takes on special importance on New Year's Eve.
On this night all the people go to Puerta del Sol to eat the grapes and celebrate the new year with a great party.
Not only Madrid residents go, but also tourists from outside Spain and Spaniards from other regions.
For this reason, it is common for the square to be completely full, and hence the phrase: «There is no room for a soul in Puerta del Sol».
The expression "not a single soul fits in" It is used when we want to say that a place is packed with people and there is practically no room for anyone else, not even a soul!
Would you like to experience a great New Year's Eve party but in a slightly clearer place?
Valencia can be a great option. In our beloved city, New Year's Eve is celebrated in the Town Hall Square and a phenomenal atmosphere is created.
This short Christmas phrase is the first thing said when we eat the grapes.
It is one of the congratulations for friends and acquaintances that is repeated the most in the first weeks of January.
This is a idiomatic expression that uses the New Year's Eve grapes for reference.
If someone tells you this, it is not a good thing.
It means that you are taking too long to do something. It is used in situations where there is a time limit.
It is como at the time of eating grapes on New Year's Eve, you have to be quick or your opportunity will go away.
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We reach the last day of Christmas in Spain: the day of the Three Wise Men.
The Three Wise Men are the ones who bring the gifts inSpanish Christmas, January 6.
They are characters very loved by all Spaniards and we have many traditions related to this day.
It is also very common to hear the following idioms typical:
The Roscón de Reyes It is eaten only on Three Kings Day.
It is a cake with candied fruit and filled with cream, truffle or chocolate. In addition, inside it has some figurines that symbolize good or bad luck.
The bean is the one of bad luck. Whose turn it is, You will have to pay the price! 😁
Sometimes, we have a good Samaritan who can warn you that the bean is in a specific piece, so that you don't pick it and save you from having to pay for it.
It is a good idea to sit next to this person.
The verb behave well/badly It talks about the way a person acts. If she is good, we say she behaves well.
The phrase "If you behave badly, the Kings will bring you coal" children are told so that they have good behavior, since coal is the worst gift they can receive.
The Charcoal is a sweet that looks like charcoal.
As you can imagine, it's a pretty ugly gift that no child wants.
To avoid this, they need behave well and so the Kings will bring them the gifts they want.
Spanish children look forward to the arrival of the Kings. But what happens if they don't write the letter to the Three Wise Men?
They may not receive their gifts because they have not made the effort.
So if you have children, you should remind them so that there are no problems later.
This is one of the original and fun Christmas phrases.
It's pretty easy to understand, right?
The Three Wise Men have their origin in the bible, so they are quite old.
If we say that someone is older than the Three Wise Men, we are jokingly saying that it is a very old person.
Almost as long as our school.
Did you know that in Hispania, Spanish school we carry more than 20 years teaching Spanish to students from all over the world?
If you are passing through Valencia and want to learn Spanish, we invite you to pay us a visit! 🙌🏻.
Now you know the Popular Christmas expressions and phrases in Spanish what else is said.
Every time you get a little closer to Spanish culture.
Also, with this article you have learned verbs and vocabulary that Spaniards use every day, such as the verbs liarse, inflarse, armarse or the expression "at least."
We hope you introduce this vocabulary into your life too!
Which of the expressions we have discussed did you like the most?
Are there any that are said in a similar way in your country or that have similar meanings?
If so, write your comment and we will read it with pleasure.
See you soon!
Article written by Carlos Martinez for Hispania, Spanish school.
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