Spanish

¡Buenas tardes!…………Good afternoon!

¡Buenas noches!...............Good evening! or Good night!

¡Adiós!.............................Good-bye!

¡Hasta luego!....................See you later!

¡Hasta la vista!.................See you later!

Por favor………………..Please

Gracias………………….Thank you

De nada…………………You’re welcome

¿Cómo estás?...................How are you?

Muy bien……………….Very well

No muy bien……………Not very well

¿Cómo te llamas?...........What is your name?

¿Cuántos años tienes?.....How old are you?

¿De dónde eres?...............Where are you from?

¿Hablas español?.............Do you speak Spanish?

No entiendo.....................I don’t understand

No hablo español……….I don’t speak Spanish

Sí………………………..Yes

No……………………….No

Señor……………………Mr.

Señora…………………..Mrs.

Señorita………………….Miss

Perdone………………….Excuse me

Lo siento…………………I am sorry

Me gustaría………………I would like…..

¿Dónde está…?.................Where is….?

A la derecha……………..On the right

A la izquierda……………On the left

Todo recto……………….Straight ahead

Sra. Castañeda's List of Special Latin American Holidays to Remember

Holidays are special times – bringing families together and honoring traditions. This calendar is just a sampling of special Latin American holidays, particularly Mexican holidays and traditions.

January 1 ~ Año Nuevo – New Year’s Day

January 6 ~ Día de los Reyes Magos – Three Kings Day- Traditionally, children receive gifts on this day, rather than on Christmas. In Mexico, it is celebrated with "Merienda" consisting of hot chocolate and "Rosca de Reyes." The Rosca de Reyes is a large oval wreath made out of egg bread and decorated with dry fruit, with sugar sprinkled on top.

February 2 ~ Día de la Candelaria – Day of the Candlelight - On this Day of Purification, the Nativity Scene is put away. Traditional events include a dinner of tamales, a candlelight procession, and dancing.

February 5 ~ Día de la Constitución Mexicana /Carnaval – Constitution Day / Carnival- This holiday kicks off a five-day celebration with parades, floats, and dancing in the streets. Carnival, or Mardi Gras, is a traditional celebration around the world.

February 14th ~ Día de San Valentin – Valentine’s Day- Celebration of friendship and love.

February 24 ~ Día de la Bandera Mexicana – Mexican Flag Day- Flag Day was instituted in 1940 by President Lazaro Cardenas. On this day in 1821, the "Plan de Iguala" was signed, ending the War of Independence and proclaiming Mexico independent.

March 21 ~ Día de Nacimiento de Benito Juárez – The Birthday of Benito Juárez- Mexico’s national hero was the leader of the resistance against foreign invasion and a champion of Mexican liberalism. He was also the first president of Indian descent.

March or April ~ Semana Santa – Holy Week (Catholic feast)- The week before Easter is one of the biggest holiday periods in Latin America and Spain, beginning on Palm Sunday and ending on Easter. Holy Week ends the 40-day Lent period.

April 30 ~ El Dia de Los Ninos – Day of the Children- This new national holiday celebrates and uplifts all children.

May 1 ~ Día del Trabajo – International Labor Day

May 5 ~ Cinco de Mayo - This day commemorates the victory by Mexican troops in "La Batalla de Puebla" against the French in 1862. Outnumbered 4,700 to 5,200 and severely under-equipped, the humble Mexican Army defeated the most powerful fighting unit in the world.

May 10th ~ Día de la Madre - Mexican Mother’s Day; dates in other countries vary.

May 20 ~ Cuban Independence Day-May 20, 1902, the U.S. occupation of Cuba ended, and the island elected its first president, Don Tomas Estrada Palma.June ~ Día del Padre - Father’s DayJune (Second Sunday) ~ National Puerto Rican Day- Begun in New York City in 1957, with the word National added in 1995, the National Puerto Rican Day Parade is part of a festival to celebrate the culture and the island of Puerto Rico.

September 13 ~ Día de los Niños Heroes – Day of the "Children Heroes" in Mexico- Resisting attack in 1847, in the historic castle of "Chapultepec," on a hilltop where a military college resided, six young cadets, with much valor, wrapped themselves in the flag and gave up their lives in defense of their flag and country.

September 16 ~ Día de la Independencia Mexicana – Mexican Independence Day- This day commemorates the beginning of Mexico’s War of Independence from Spain and the delivery of "El Grito de Dolores" by Father Miguel Hidalgo.

October 12 ~ Día de la Raza – Day of the Race-This holiday celebrates Columbus’ discovery of and arrival in the New World and the historical origins of the Mexican (mestizo) people/race. It is also commemorated throughout Latin America and Spain as Día de la Hispanidad (Hispanic Pride Day), elsewhere as Discovery Day, and, in the U.S. as Columbus Day.

November 1 & 2 ~ Día de los Muertos – Day of the Dead- This important Mexican holiday merges Pre-Columbian beliefs and modern Catholicism. Europe’s All Saints’ Day and the Aztec worship of the dead contribute to these two days that honor Mexico’s dead.

November 20 ~ Día de la Revolución – Revolution Day- This is the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

December 12 ~ Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe – Day of our Lady of Guadalupe- The day of the Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated with a procession and a feast honoring Mexico’s patron saint. These celebrations mark the miraculous appearance of the Virgin Mary on Tepeyac Hill in 1531 -- a beautiful Aztec goddess who spoke the native language and requested that the Basilica be built on Tepeyac Hill, a sacred Aztec ground.

December 16 – 24 ~ Las Posadas – Inn / Shelter (Catholic feast)- Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter in Bethlehem is celebrated and commemorated with candlelight processions. Each family in a neighborhood will schedule a night for the Posada to be held at their home. The homeowners are the innkeepers, and the neighborhood children and adults are "Los Peregrinos" who have to request lodging through singing a simple chant. Celebrations may vary in Latin American countries.

December 24 ~ Noche Buena – Holy Night- Christmas Eve is celebrated by attending Mass and by having dinner with family and friends. Most important, at midnight, the Baby Jesus is placed in the manger in the Nativity Scene.

December 25 ~ Día de Navidad – Christmas Day

December 28 ~ Día de los Santos Inocentes – Day of the Innocent Saints (Catholic feast)- This celebration is similar to April Fool’s Day