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Utah Online Library Middle
Utah Online Library Middle
Use Utah Online Library Middle School to look up information in reliable databases.
Ask your librarian or teacher for the home access information.
If you go to the Culturegrams databases you can find out more about the Holidays in Spanish speaking countries and around the world by clicking on the Holidays section. You can also look for recipes for each country!
You can also look up information in Spanish using World Book Enciclopedia Hallazgos
Spain
Spain
New Year's Eve
On New Year's Eve, most Spaniards have a dinner with friends and relatives that lasts until late in the evening. They wait for midnight and watch New Year's television programming to see the clock in Puerta del Sol (a major plaza in Madrid) strike 12; with each stroke, each person eats a grape. After eating 12 grapes, people make a toast with champagne and wish each other a happy New Year. Dancing afterward may last all night.
From: ProQuest. (2022). Spain: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=150&cn=Spain&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Mexico
Mexico
Cuba
Cuba
New Year's
New Year's
New Year's Eve (31 December) is one of the largest celebrations of the year. The party begins in the evening with a large feast. At midnight people kiss each other. Various traditions are thought to bring good luck: many people go out into the streets with an empty suitcase, and others throw buckets of water out of windows or off of balconies to symbolically cleanse their houses of evil and start the new year afresh.
From: ProQuest. (2022). Cuba: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=40&cn=Cuba&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
New Year's is celebrated as part of the Christmas season. On New Year's Eve, people clean their houses and dress in new clothes before gathering with friends. It is traditional to eat 12 grapes at midnight, one grape for each chime of the clock. People welcome the new year with hugs, car horns, and firecrackers.
From: ProQuest. (2022). Puerto Rico: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=129&cn=Puerto_Rico&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Dominican Republic
Dominican Republic
New Year's
New Year's celebrations are important to most Dominicans. New Year's Eve is often spent with family members, eating a large meal and offering prayers of gratitude for the previous year. People may also attend all-night parties with loud music and dancing. New Year's Day is also spent with the family, eating leftovers from the New Year's Eve party.
From: ProQuest. (2022). Dominican Republic: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=44&cn=Dominican_Republic&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica
New Year’s
New Year's is generally thought of as a time for friends, parties, drinking, and dancing. Tamales (meat, vegetables, and cornmeal wrapped in plantain leaves and boiled) and chicharrones (fried pork rinds) are foods typical of this holiday. Gifts are exchanged and people often sing and light fireworks as the new year approaches. However, many Costa Ricans will interrupt festivities before midnight on New Year's Eve to go home and eat a small, quiet meal with family before returning to their party after midnight. Flor de itavo (the flower of a yucca plant) is a special ingredient sold throughout the country for this holiday. It is used to make various dishes, the most popular of which are egg based.
From: ProQuest. (2022). Costa Rica: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=38&cn=Costa_Rica&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
El Salvador
El Salvador
Festivals
The Salvadoran love for beauty and fun finds expression in the many colorful festivals during the year. Most towns have a holy day or week during which they celebrate their patron saint. Celebrations include a street fair with rides, food, drinks, and dancing and often culminate with a parade. A town queen is crowned in a beauty pageant. People commonly cook tamales during these holidays.
ProQuest. (2022). El Salvador: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=47&cn=El_Salvador&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
New Year
The custom in El Salvador is to crack an egg into a glass of water and leave it overnight by an open window. In the morning, the figure revealed by the egg represents the aspect that will bring good fortune in the coming year. According to another New Year’s Eve ritual, if you wear your undergarments inside out during the last hours of the old year and return them to their correct position after midnight, then your closet will be filled with new clothing throughout the year.
https://www.barcelo.com/pinandtravel/en/discover-latin-americas-most-interesting-new-years-rituals/
Guatemala
Guatemala
New Year
Anyone in Guatemala who owns a piece of jewelry, preferably made of gold, must use it to welcome the New Year according to the belief that this ritual will bring money and prosperity. At noon on January 1st, Guatemalans step outside to look at the sky and count the clouds as they silently pray; the total number represents the money they will win throughout the coming year. The New Year’s Eve suitcase ritual is also very popular in this country, although Guatemalans pack them with clothing and place them behind the front door so the family will have trips and positive experiences that year. It is believed that Guatemalan children must ring in the New Year with something new or they will not have new clothing the entire year. This has become a custom at the start of every school year, when children show off their new clothing and materials to ensure good grades.
https://www.barcelo.com/pinandtravel/en/discover-latin-americas-most-interesting-new-years-rituals/
Honduras
Honduras
Public holidays include New Year's Day (1 January); Day of the Americas (14 April); Labor Day (1 May); Independence Day (15 September); Birth of Morazán, a national hero (3 October); Columbus Day (12 October); Armed Forces Day (21 October); and Christmas (25 December).
ProQuest. (2022). Honduras: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=70&cn=Honduras&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Nicaragua
Nicaragua
New Year
Nicaragua has a tradition that is becoming increasingly popular: the popular burning of “El Viejo” or “La Vieja”, in which dolls made of wood and cotton are dressed in old clothing and usually appear to be smoking or drinking alcohol. Just like in other Latin American countries with similar customs, the idea consists of leaving behind the bad and starting the new year with a clean slate. Superstitious Nicaraguans who are less traditional fill their house with the scent of cinnamon to ensure a peaceful home life and to ward off any tension or stress. Nicaragua also has other New Year’s rituals, such as sweeping away any negative energy from the home, holding the midnight toast in the right hand (even if the person is left-handed), and hopping three times with the right foot for good luck throughout the year.
https://www.barcelo.com/pinandtravel/en/discover-latin-americas-most-interesting-new-years-rituals/
Culturegrams--Holidays:
Public holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), Easter (Thursday–Sunday), Labor Day (1 May), Battle of San Jacinto (14 September), Independence Day (15 September), and Christmas (25 December). In addition to Christmas, La Gritería (7 December) and Feast of the Immaculate Conception (8 December) both celebrate the Virgin Mary’s conception. Workers also receive a half-day vacation on Christmas Eve.
ProQuest. (2022). Nicaragua: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=113&cn=Nicaragua&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Panama
Panama
New Year's Eve
On New Year’s Eve, people gather to eat traditional foods like guandu and rice, pork, turkey, and plantains. At midnight, they ignite life-sized dolls (which are usually made to look unattractive) stuffed with straw, grass, and firecrackers to say good-bye to all the bad things of the previous year. Kids light firecrackers, and parties may last until dawn.
ProQuest. (2022). Panama: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=122&cn=Panama&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Figuras de COVID-19
Muñecos de Año Viejo | Panamá
Argentina
Argentina
New Year's Eve
In some rural areas in northern Argentina, large comic effigies portraying cartoon or historical characters are exhibited and sometimes burned, representing a cleansing or purification in preparation for the New Year celebrations the following week. Light-colored clothing is often given as gifts because it is believed to bring good luck to the recipient. On New Year's Eve, people usually celebrate with small gatherings of family and friends. Many people watch televised variety shows that count down to the New Year.
ProQuest. (2022). Argentina: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=6&cn=Argentina&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Bolivia
Bolivia
Holidays in Bolivia include New Year's Day (1 January), Creation of the Plurinational State of Bolivia (22 January), Día del Mar (Sea Day; 23 March, when Bolivians remember the war with Chile in which Bolivia lost ocean access and school groups walk through the streets carrying model ships), Carnaval, Easter, Labor Day (1 May), Independence Day (6 August), All Saints' Day (1 November, a day for the family to clean and decorate ancestral graves and enjoy a picnic), and Christmas (25 December). The government moves the observation of many holidays to the day closest to the weekend in order to create extended weekends, or puentes (literally, "bridges").
ProQuest. (2022). Bolivia: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=22&cn=Bolivia&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Chile
Chile
New Year's Eve
Although Christmas is a family holiday, Chileans consider New Year's the most important time for family gatherings, typically including a large meal symbolizing an abundant start to the new year. The holiday is also celebrated with fireworks displays; other traditions include eating 12 grapes (symbolizing the 12 months of the year) for good luck while counting down to midnight, when three spoonfuls of lentils representing love, health, and wealth in the coming year are eaten.
ProQuest. (2022). Chile: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=33&cn=Chile&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Colombia
Colombia
Colombia has a wide array of superstitions, such as standing at midnight to ensure money, luck and health; slamming the door to ward off evil spirits from the home; eating the twelve grapes; and taking a packed suitcase around the block in order to travel during the upcoming year. Wearing yellow is one of the most popular New Year’s Eve rituals because it brings good luck, and just like Peruvians and Ecuadorians, Colombians also make dolls that are then burned. One of the differences is that in Colombia they are stuffed with fireworks and placed along the road to welcome the New Year with colorful sparks that fill the night sky.
https://www.barcelo.com/pinandtravel/en/discover-latin-americas-most-interesting-new-years-rituals/
Ecuador
Ecuador
In Ecuador, the New Year’s ritual that follows the famous midnight grapes is to make a rag doll and set it on fire to burn the negative aspects about the old year and welcome the new one. Venezuela, Peru and several South American countries have similar rituals in order to "burn the old year." . After the stroke of midnight, people wishing for a year filled with travel run around the block with a suitcase.
https://www.barcelo.com/pinandtravel/en/discover-latin-americas-most-interesting-new-years-rituals/
Ecuador's national holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, Labor Day (1 May), the Battle of Pichincha (24 May, which marks Ecuador's liberation from Spain), the birthday of Simón Bolívar (24 July), All Souls' Day (2 November), and Christmas Day (25 December).
ProQuest. (2022). Ecuador: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=45&cn=Ecuador&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguayans celebrate New Year's Day (1 January), Epiphany (6 January), Carnaval (a week of parades and parties in February), Heroes' Day (1 March), Semana Santa (Holy Week before Easter), Labor Day (1 May), Independence Day (14–15 May), Mother's Day (15 May), the Chaco Armistice (12 June), Día de la Amistad (Friendship Day, 30 July), Founding of Asunción City (15 August, celebrated with large parades), Día de los Niños (Children's Day, 16 August), Constitution Day (25 August), Victory of Boquerón (29 September), Columbus Day (12 October), All Saints' Day (1 November), Virgin of Caacupé (8 December), and Christmas. Semana Santa is the most important holiday period and is a week for family gatherings.
ProQuest. (2022). Paraguay: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=124&cn=Paraguay&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Peru
Peru
Peru's national holidays include New Year's Day (1 January), Easter (Thursday–Sunday), Labor Day (1 May), Countryman's Day (24 June), Saint Peter and Saint Paul's Day (29 June), Independence Day (28 July), National Day (28 July), Saint Rose of Lima Day (30 August), Navy Day (8 October), All Saints' Day (1 November), Immaculate Conception (8 December), and Christmas (25 December). Many local holidays honor patron saints or celebrate the harvest, as well as provide recreational opportunities.
ProQuest. (2022). Peru: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=125&cn=Peru&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Uruguay
Uruguay
The most important holidays are New Year's Day (1 January), Día de los Reyes (Three Kings' Day, 6 January), Carnaval (Carnival), Easter (including Holy Thursday and Good Friday), Landing of the Thirty-Three Patriots (19 April), Labor Day (1 May), Constitution Day (18 July), Independence Day (25 August), Christmas Eve (24 December), and Christmas (25 December).
ProQuest. (2022). Uruguay: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=170&cn=Uruguay&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Venezuela
Venezuela
New Year's Eve
In the Andes region of the country, on New Year’s Eve, a figure representing the old year (such as an unpopular politician) is made with old clothes and burned to usher in the new year.
ProQuest. (2022). Venezuela: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=172&cn=Venezuela&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
Philippines
Philippines
New Year’s
New Year’s celebrations are an extension of Christmas festivities, and Christmas decorations generally stay up until after the first week of January. Windows, doors, and drawers are opened to let out the bad spirits and to welcome the good. For luck, many people hang 13 ripe, round fruits around their doorway, wear clothes with polka-dot prints (the roundness symbolizes eternity and prosperity), and carry money in their pockets. Families get together on New Year’s Eve and enjoy food as they wait for the clock to strike 12. Men spend their time at the parties chatting with friends and drinking, women prepare food and gifts, and children play. Everyone watches a fireworks display at midnight. Fireworks displays, traditionally thought to banish the bad spirits of the previous year, are held in parks and town plazas. New Year's Eve parties, often featuring musical performances, are held in major cities in the country.
ProQuest. (2022). Philippines: Holidays. CultureGrams Online Edition. Retrieved from https://online.culturegrams.com/world/world_country_sections.php?cid=126&cn=Philippines&sname=Holidays&snid=16.
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