Month: December 2024

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Culture around Spanish language

Christmas in Latin America: between carols, posadas and Santa Claus

Christmas in Latin America is a mosaic of traditions, flavours, and celebrations that vary as much as the Spanish accents in the region. Although they all share the festive spirit, each country gives a unique touch to this magical season. From the colourful Mexican posadas to the Christmas “asados” in Argentina, Christmas in this corner of the world is an unforgettable experience full of diversity and human warmth.

Santa Claus, Father Christmas or Pascuero?

One of the great Christmas dilemmas in Latin America is what we call the chubby character who hands out presents. In Mexico, Central America and much of the Caribbean, it is more common to hear “Santa Claus”, adopted directly from the American model. However, in countries such as Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay, the “Santa Claus” figure predominates, influenced by European traditions.

In Chile, the beloved “Viejito Pascuero” steals the show. This name, a mix of the traditional and the tender, reflects the affection with which Chileans have integrated him into their culture. Although the character is essentially the same, how he is named shows how cultures reinterpret global symbols to make them their own.

The road to Bethlehem: posadas and novenas

In Mexico and Guatemala, posadas are an essential ritual in the days before Christmas. These recreations of Mary and Joseph’s pilgrimage to Bethlehem combine songs, prayers, and piñatas filled with candy. The hosts open their doors, symbolising the spirit of hospitality that defines Christmas.

Christmas novenas take a more spiritual approach in Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. For nine days, families gather to pray, sing Christmas carols and share traditional sweets. At these gatherings, there is no shortage of buñuelos, natillas or hallacas, demonstrating that faith and food always go hand in hand in Latin America.

Christmas tables: a diverse feast

If one thing unites the region, it is food, but each country has its interpretation of a Christmas dinner. In Argentina, Uruguay and southern Chile, the barbecue is the star of the evening, while in Peru, turkey accompanied by Russian salad and panettone is a must.

In Venezuela, hallacas (stuffed tamale) are the table’s centrepiece, accompanied by pork and ham bread. In Mexico, the menu may include cod a la vizcaína, romeritos and tamales. At the same time, in Puerto Rico, the star is roasted suckling pig, accompanied by rice with pigeon peas and coquito, a coconut liqueur-like punch.

Fireworks and outdoor traditions

In much of Latin America, Christmas is celebrated with warm temperatures, which invite people to take the festivities outdoors. Countries like Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil are expected to gather in patios and gardens to enjoy food under the stars.

F fireworks are central in countries like El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala. At midnight on December 24, the skies light up with colourful explosions that mark the beginning of Christmas. In Chile, it is expected to see children playing in the street after midnight with the toys that Santa Claus has given them.

Days of togetherness and family celebration

Although the names and customs vary, the spirit of Christmas in Latin America is universal: it is a time for family, faith, and solidarity. Each tradition, from the most solemn to the most festive, reminds us that Christmas transcends borders. Some give a single gift; others want to surprise with many gifts. There are secret friends, office celebrations, and more austere celebrations.

So, whether you toast with coconut, eggnog or champagne or give gifts from Santa Claus, Father Christmas or Santa Claus, in Latin America, you will always find a unique and memorable way to experience the magic of Christmas. The important thing is to have the company of family or friends on that particular night.

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Culture around Spanish language

Why Spanish has two different words: yerno and nuera? Origin of these words

Spanish, full of curiosities and linguistic inheritances, also keeps secrets in words we use daily. Today, we focus on the peculiar case of yerno and nuera, the terms we use to refer to the husband or wife of our children. But why don’t we say nuero and yerna?

The etymological origin of yerno and nuera

The word yerno comes from the Latin gener, which is related to concepts of genealogy and lineage. In classical Latin, gener specifically designated the daughter’s husband, reflecting the importance of family roles in Roman society. The term evolved phonetically to gignere in Vulgar Latin and yerno in Spanish.

On the other hand, nuera comes from the Latin nurus, which means “son’s wife.” This word shared a root with terms related to care or upbringing, echoing the traditional roles assigned to women in ancient families. Thus, both words have Latin roots and well-defined roles from ancient times.

Why is there no such thing as yerna or nuero? The absence of terms like yerna and nuero can largely be explained by how languages ​​reflect historical social structures. Languages ​​often encode the roles with the most remarkable cultural relevance in their words. In ancient patriarchal societies, kinship relationships with the daughter’s husband (yerno, son-in-law) and the son’s wife (nuera, daughter-in-law) were the most important for maintaining lineage and family alliances.

In contrast, there was not as much need to define “mirror” categories like yerna or nuero because these relationships did not carry the same cultural or symbolic weight in those contexts. Language did not develop words that were not necessary for their social function.

In contrast, father-in-law and mother-in-law exist because both relationships – with the couple’s father and mother – were relevant in family structures. These words also come from Latin: socrus (suegra, mother-in-law) and socrer ( suegro, father-in-law), and they reinforce symmetry in ascending kinship relationships.

Language, like culture, adapts to what society needs to name. So, while we continue to use yerno and nuera, we remember that our words are a living testimony to the traditions and structures of our ancestors.

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Culture around Spanish language

Spain: the cradle of Spanish and a linguistic kaleidoscope

Spain, that great peninsula in the Mediterranean, is not only the birthplace of Spanish but also of a mosaic of languages ​​intertwined in its history and geography. Although Castilian is one of the most widely spoken languages ​​in the world today, its roots, along with those of other Iberian languages, are marked by conquests, cultures, and evolution.

Where was the Spanish born?

Contrary to what many might imagine, the Spanish did not emerge in a large city or a majestic setting but in a small town in the province of Burgos called San Millán de la Cogolla. With just 14 inhabitants today, this place witnessed the first attempts at the language that would conquer the world.

In the San Millán and Valpuesta monasteries, monks began recording texts in a Romance language that would evolve into Spanish. Among the oldest documents are the Cartularies of Valpuesta, which date back to the 9th century and contain familiar words, although wrapped in a primitive linguistic structure.

The jar of Iberian languages

Although Spanish became the predominant language of Spain and, later, of much of Latin America, it is not and was not the only language on the peninsula. Since ancient times, Spain has been home to a rich linguistic diversity that includes Catalan, Basque, Galician and, of course, the various variants of Aragonese and Astur-Leonese.

Catalan

Spoken in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Valencian Community (where its variant is called Valencian), Catalan has roots in Vulgar Latin but with influences that make it unique. In the 21st century, it remains a living and strong language, with a robust literary culture and speakers passionate about its preservation.

Euskera

Euskera (or Basque) is the true rebel of the group: it is not related to any other known language and is considered one of the oldest languages ​​in Europe. Although its origins are a mystery, its resilience is undeniable, as it survived Romanization and other linguistic influences that dominated the peninsula.

Galician

Galician is like Portuguese. It is spoken primarily in Galicia, where the language resonates with nostalgia for the vieiras and the sea. It was a literary language of great importance in the Middle Ages, and although it lost ground to Spanish, it has regained its vitality in recent decades.

From dialects to empires

Spanish began as one more variant among the Romance languages ​​of the peninsula. Its rise coincided with the growth of the Kingdom of Castile, which extended its influence both territorially and linguistically. During the 15th century, with the unification of the kingdoms of Castile and Aragon under the Catholic Monarchs and, later, the conquest of America, Castilian became a tool of communication and cultural domination.

The first step towards its consolidation as a standard language was the publication of Antonio de Nebrija’s first grammar of Spanish in 1492. He stated that a language is the companion of an empire, and Spanish indeed accompanied the Spanish empire in its global expansion.

Today, Spain remains an example of linguistic diversity. Co-official languages ​​such as Catalan, Galician and Basque coexist with Spanish, although not without political and social tensions. Each language ​​represents a way of speaking, an identity and a regional pride.

For example, the debate on the teaching and official use of co-official languages ​​is a recurring theme in the Spanish political landscape. While some defend linguistic homogenisation, others advocate the protection and active promotion of these minority languages.

Spain: a model of plurality

Beyond the tensions, Spain’s linguistic plurality is a treasure that enriches its culture. From Rosalía de Castro’s Galician poems to the Basque songs that resonate in the Basque Country, each language contributes to the cultural puzzle that defines Spain.

Ultimately, Spain is not only the birthplace of Spanish but also a living reminder that languages ​​reflect the history, resilience and creativity of the people who speak them. So, the next time you walk through San Millán de la Cogolla or listen to a song in Catalan, remember that you are witnessing the linguistic richness that makes Spain unique.

If you are interested in delving deeper into the history of Spanish and the languages ​​of Spain, you can explore sources such as the Instituto Cervantes and specialised historical studies.

Keep learning curiosities about the language and the Spanish language, visiting and reading the articles we publish weekly on the iScribo blog. If you want to improve your Spanish writing and correct a specific variant of this language, subscribe to our superb grammar checker. We are waiting for you!

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Culture around Spanish language

Say it here, not there: the multiple lives of a word in the Spanish of the world

With more than 500 million speakers worldwide, Spanish is a linguistic kaleidoscope where the same word can be transformed into a thousand meanings depending on the place. What in one country may be an everyday and harmless term, in another, may trigger laughter, confusion, or even an embarrassing situation. Let’s discover how the Spanish navigates these rivers of semantic and cultural diversity.

The art of misunderstanding

Imagine an Argentinean saying he needs a “pila” for his remote control and a Mexican saying he has many “pilas.” Although both people mention the same word, they talk about different things: in Argentina, “pila” is a battery, while in Mexico, it means energy or enthusiasm. This duality illustrates the phenomenon of contextual polysemy that characterises our language.

Another iconic example is the word “guagua.” In Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Canary Islands, it means a city bus, but in Chile, northern Argentina, and southern Peru, it is a term of endearment for a baby. Meanwhile, in Colombia or Ecuador, “guagua” refers exclusively to a small child. Thus, a small word can have different meanings depending on the cultural context.

If we talk about “tacos” everyone in Mexico will immediately think of food. In contrast, in Chile, someone can say, “I’ll be late because I’m stuck in a traffic jam”, and everyone knows they are talking about traffic congestion.

When food speaks

Gastronomy is also fertile ground for misunderstandings. In Mexico, a “torta” is a sandwich; however, it is a type of cake or pie in Spain. And what about “maní”? This delicious nut is known as “cacahuate” in Mexico, “cacahuete” in Spain, and simply “maní” in Argentina, Chile, and other South American countries. Travelling can become a linguistic adventure when the restaurant menu seems like a cultural riddle.

The traps of double meanings

Some words acquire humorous or unexpected connotations in certain countries. For example, “chucho” can refer to a dog in El Salvador, but in other places like Guatemala, it means “cold”, and in Spain, it can be a nickname for someone called Jesus. Similarly, “concha” is an innocent word that refers to a type of bread in Mexico. Still, in Chile, Argentina, and other countries in the Southern Cone, it can generate uncomfortable laughter due to its vulgar meaning. The same happens with “polla” (cock); in Chile, it is nothing more than a traditional lottery game, but in Spain, this word refers to the male organ for copulation. For this reason, it is traditional that if a Spaniard travels to Chile, he takes a photo in the building that says in large letters, “Chilean charity cock”. 😮😆

Spanish as a Cultural Mirror

These variations are not errors or obstacles but reflections of Spanish-speaking communities’ cultural and social richness. Each country has woven its history, traditions, and way of seeing the world into its language. For example, the use of “coger” in Spain is widespread and means “to take” or “to grab,” but in Mexico and other countries, it can have sexual connotations.

The Language Traveler

The key for those who travel the Spanish-speaking world is adaptation and curiosity. Knowing local variants can avoid misunderstandings and open doors to new friendships and experiences. Accepting linguistic differences with humour and willingness is part of the magic of being a Spanish speaker.

In short, Spanish is a language as rich and varied as the landscapes where it is spoken. Each word is an invitation to discover a meaning, a history and a culture behind it. So, the next time you use a word, remember: say it here, but maybe not there.

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