Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, if you’re struggling with the lingo, we’ve got a cure for that.
Consider this your Spanish Christmas 101, the basic vocabulary, idioms, expressions and greetings that will help you get through the holiday season like a local. Plus a few more adventurous greetings for those wanting to move past the standard ‘Feliz Navidad’ – go on, you know you are ready.
Dates
El Gordo: Christmas lottery which takes place on 22nd December.
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Nochebuena: Christmas Eve
Día de navidad: Christmas Day
Día de los Santos Inocentes: 28th December (similar to April Fool’s Day)
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Nochevieja: New Year’s Eve
Año Nuevo: New Year
Día de año nuevo: New Year’s Day
Noche de Reyes: Twelfth Night (5th January)
Día de Reyes: 6th January
Christmas Gifts & Decorations
Papá Noel: Father Christmas, Santa Claus
Espíritu navideño: Christmas spirit
Trineo: Sleigh
Cascabeles: Bells, often used to refer to sleigh bells.
Renos: Reindeer
Calendario de adviento: Advent calendar
Regalo de navidad: Christmas present
Tarjeta de Navidad: Christmas card
Árbol de navidad: Christmas tree
Adornos de Navidad: Christmas decorations
Espumillón: tinsel
Adorno (del árbol de navidad): bauble
Calcetín: Stocking
Luces navideñas: Christmas lights
Hombre de nieve: Snowman
Corona de Navidad: Christmas wreath
Muérdago: Mistletoe
Acebo: Holly
Flor de Pascua, Pascuelo: Poinsettia
Religious Christmas Vocabulary
Niño Jesús: Baby Jesus
Virgen María y José: Virgin Mary and Joseph.
Reyes Magos: Magi Kings. It refers to the “Three Magi,” “Three Kings” or, as they’re known in English, the “Three Wise Men.”
Villancico: Christmas carol
El belén: Nativity scene
Oro, incienso y mirra: gold, frankincense and myrrh
La cabalgata: A Christmas parade during the Twelfth Night, where the Three Wise Men give candies and presents to children.
Misa del Gallo: Midnight Mass, or literally “Rooster’s Mass.”
Christmas Expressions & Greetings
Feliz Navidad: Merry Christmas!
Próspero Año Nuevo: Happy New Year!
¡Felices Fiestas/Pascuas!: Season’s Greetings
For those wishing to go beyond the basics …
… website https://www.fluentu.com/blog/spanish/ have kindly provided some more ambitious but heartfelt alternatives.
Mis mejores deseos para Navidad y Año Nuevo : My best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.
Te deseo mucha alegría y felicidad estas fiestas: I wish you lots of joy and happiness this holiday season.
Mucho cariño para ti y tu familia esta Navidad: Lots of love to you and your family this Christmas.
Que en esta Navidad el mejor regalo que recibas sea estar junto a tus seres queridos compartiendo paz, esperanza y alegría: I hope that this Christmas the best present you get is to be near your loved ones sharing peace, hope and joy.
Que se cumplan tus deseos estas fiestas/esta Navidad/en el Año Nuevo: I hope your dreams come true for the holidays/Christmas/the new year.
And for those wanting to add some spiritual meaning to their greetings …
Que Dios te bendiga este Año Nuevo: God bless you this new year.
Que la estrella de Belén ilumine tu vida esta Navidad: I hope that Bethlehem’s star lights up your life this Christmas.
Que los Reyes (Magos) te protejan: May the three Kings (Wise Men) protect you.
And if you want to go for a less formal greeting, these might fit the bill.
Todo lo que quiero para Navidad eres tú: All I want for Xmas is you.
Nos vemos debajo del muérdago: See you under the mistletoe.
Espero que no te hayas portado mal este año: I hope you haven’t been too naughty this year.
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