How birthdays are celebrated in Spain: traditions and customs Hello again! We hope you come with your batteries charged because today we bring you a very curious article. Have you ever celebrated your birthday in Spain? If so, you may have found some of our ideas shocking.
Hello again! We hope you come with your batteries charged because today we bring you a very curious article.
Have you ever celebrated your birthday in Spain?
If so, perhaps some of our customs have been shocking to you and you haven't understood some things very well.
Today you will clear your doubts and we will tell you all the traditions and customs What are done when we celebrate? birthdays in Spain.
If you are interested in Spanish culture, with this article you will be able to get to know us a little more and you will learn vocabulary related to birthdays.
Are you interested in learning or improving your level of Spanish? With this blog you can do it, but the most important thing is that you have classes with good teachers.
In Hispania, Spanish school we offer face-to-face Spanish courses and online Spanish courses.
In these courses you will learn Spanish quickly with a good foundation of grammar and vocabulary that is fully applicable to real life.
In a month you will be speaking Spanish with natives. Guaranteed!
That said, we give rise to the topic of today's blog: How we Spaniards celebrate birthdays.
Birthday greetings in Spain are very important.
When it's someone's birthday, the first thing to do is congratulate them. There are many ways to congratulate today: in person, by phone or by written message.
Which one do you prefer? The use of one medium or another will depend on the person who congratulates and the relationship you have.
If it is an important person in your life, it is possible that they will call you to chat a little, if not, a WhatsApp message is more than enough.
What words are there to say happy birthday to a friend? The birthday phrases that are said the most in Spain are:
Furthermore, you can also express wishes like:
This practice is unfortunately no longer in use in Spain, although the most detailed ones continue to do it.
It is about handwriting some beautiful words of congratulations on birthday cards.
These cards can be decorated like a postcard or with photos that you share with the birthday person. You can also make funny and original birthday greetings, be creative!
Don't you think it's beautiful that today there are still people who have the consideration to do these details?
Are you one of those who take their time to write these greeting cards or do you just send a WhatsApp?
In the past, when the birthday boy wanted to celebrate a party with his friends or family, they also prepared beautiful cards invitation birthday.
This tradition of writing birthday dedicationscards are also out of use due to the convenience we have today of communicating through social networks and chat groups.
They are losing customs that were very beautiful, don't you think?
We get to the good: the birthday party.
You can have many types of parties. We are going to talk about the two main ones, the festivals with the family and with the friends.
Birthday parties with friends are usually very lively.
They are usually celebrated at the birthday boy's house, in a rented apartment or in a restaurant with birthday decorations.
Normally a dinner at night. The food can be prepared by the birthday child or it is also possible for each guest to bring a dish to share.
After dinner, if it's a good party you can't miss it music, dance and the drink.
This can be done in the same apartment for a little while, but to avoid disturbing the neighbors it is best to go to a nightclub.
There may also be other activities such as board games or karaoke.
Holidays with family are usually calmer compared to parties with friends.
The main focus is on family, including parents, siblings, grandparents, uncles, cousins and other close relatives.
These celebrations can be an opportunity for the family to come together and spend time together.
As there will surely be children and the elderly, these parties are usually held during the day, to eat or snack.
Family birthdays are usually celebrated at the birthday child's house, in a restaurant or even in an outdoor park with a picnic.
In both festivals there is food, but there is no especially traditional dish for birthdays, it can be anything.
What cannot be missing is the birthday cake. The cake is eaten for dessert and can be of any type.
As is customary in many other countries, the cakes have the number of years of the birthday boy's birthday with lit candles.
The birthday boy must think and make a wish without expressing it and then blow out the candles, for luck. This is the main tradition.
Another of the main Spanish traditions is pull ears to the birthday boy. This is done especially the children.
What does this tradition consist of? You simply have to hold the child's ear with two fingers and pull gently. The ear has to be pulled the same number of times as the child turns.
That is, if the child turns 10 years old, he will have to receive 10 slaps on the wrist. It has to be done soft and loving, we don't want to traumatize any children!
Why is this slap on the wrist done? It is done to wish the birthday boy good luck and prosperity in the next year of your life.
It is also a gesture of love and affection.
Another custom that cannot be missed is singing the song ofhappy birthday at the moment of taking out the cake with the candles, just before blowing them out.
There are quite a few birthday songs in Spanish. The main ones that are usually sung are happy birthday and happy on your day.
They can't be missed at every birthday party. the gifts. In Spain you can give anything: clothes, accessories, tickets to concerts or festivals, a trip...
At what time do they occur? They are usually delivered before or after the cake. Should the birthday boy open the gifts the moment he receives them?
There is a lot of dilemma with this. The truth is that it depends on the person.
There are those who really want to see the gifts and open them right there. People who are more reserved prefer to open them in privacy.
You can also ask the person who gave you the gift if they can open it in front of everyone or better in private.
And this is all. Now you know how to congratulate a birthday in Spain.
As you can see, we do not have traditions or customs that are very different from other Western countries.
The most important thing is that it is a beautiful moment to remember and have a good time with your loved ones, that there is good food and a lot of joy.
Do you know where there is also a lot of joy and camaraderie? In our classes at Hispania, Spanish school 😃.
If you come to our school, you will learn Spanish in the best possible environment and with teachers who are experts in the language.
Have you already celebrated a birthday in Spain?
Are there differences in the way we celebrate it here and in your country?
Tell us in the comments.
Have a good time!
Article written by Carlos Martinez for Hispania, Spanish school.
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