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Customs, festivals and traditions
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Everyday customs and famous festivals in Spain and Latin America, and how to describe them.
Everyday customs in Spain
Meals are often later than in the UK: lunch is usually the main meal of the day, and dinner is often eaten late in the evening.
People often greet friends with dos besos (two kisses on the cheeks).
la siesta = a rest after lunch, though fewer people take one today.
People often greet friends with dos besos (two kisses on the cheeks).
la siesta = a rest after lunch, though fewer people take one today.
Festivals in Spain
los Reyes Magos (6 January): children traditionally receive presents from the Three Kings.
las Fallas (Valencia, March): huge figures are displayed and then burned.
la Semana Santa (Holy Week, at Easter): processions in many cities, such as Seville.
la Tomatina (Buñol, August): a giant tomato fight.
Nochevieja (31 December): people eat las doce uvas, twelve grapes, at midnight.
las Fallas (Valencia, March): huge figures are displayed and then burned.
la Semana Santa (Holy Week, at Easter): processions in many cities, such as Seville.
la Tomatina (Buñol, August): a giant tomato fight.
Nochevieja (31 December): people eat las doce uvas, twelve grapes, at midnight.
Latin America and describing a festival
el Día de los Muertos (Mexico, 1 and 2 November): families remember relatives who have died, with altars, flowers and food.
Describe with se and the present: Se celebra en marzo. La gente baila en la calle.
La gente is singular, so it takes a singular verb.
Describe with se and the present: Se celebra en marzo. La gente baila en la calle.
La gente is singular, so it takes a singular verb.
Translate: In Spain people eat twelve grapes on New Year's Eve.
- people = la gente, with a singular verb: come
- twelve grapes = doce uvas
- on New Year's Eve = en Nochevieja
Answer: En España la gente come doce uvas en Nochevieja.
Reyes Magos on 6 January, las Fallas in Valencia in March, la Tomatina in Buñol in August, twelve grapes at Nochevieja, el Día de los Muertos in Mexico. Se celebra... La gente + singular verb.
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