Do you know that Peninsular Spanish and Mexican Spanish are different? This is because different varieties of the same language are used by native speakers in distinct parts of the world. So, the Spanish you can hear among Spanish-speaking countries may sound quite different.  The English language, for example, has regional varieties such as American English, British English, Australian English, etc. In the case of the Spanish language, there are also many possible pronunciations and accents. Table of Contents Where Are Peninsular Spanish And Mexican Spanish Spoken? Vocabulary Differences Pronunciation Differences Tenses Used Using Vosotros And Ustedes So, Which Spanish To Learn? 1. Where Are Peninsular Spanish And... Show more

Can you believe it’s almost Christmas? It’s the time of year when the cold of winter culminates to a time of warmth, joy, and compassion.  Did you know that in Mexico, there’s an entire nine-night festival leading up to Christmas?  In this article, you’ll learn about the Las Posadas holiday, how it got started, and more fun Las Posadas facts. Are you ready? 1. What is Las Posadas? Each year, Mexicans observe the Las Posadas festival from December 16 to December 24. For these nueve noches ("nine nights"), Mexicans commemorate the journey of Mary and Joseph, the parents of Jesus.  This long holiday, leading up to Navidad ("Christmas"), first came to Mexico in the year 1586. Prior to this, the... Show more

The way you think about and react to death has a lot to do with how you were raised. Your cultural background, religious beliefs, life experiences, and many other factors can all play a role in your perception of death.  The Día de Muertos ("Day of the Dead") in Mexico is a festival steeped in the beliefs of many cultures, and it focuses on the joyous occasion of the living and dead reuniting. In this article, you’ll learn all about the Day of the Dead, from its history to how it’s celebrated today.  Let’s get started! 1. What is the Day of the Dead? The Day of the Dead festival is an annual three-day celebration in Mexico, beginning on October 31 and ending on November 2. Each of these three days has its... Show more

Every country has a story behind its independence, and many have a figure whom they credit with their victory. In fact, Mexican Independence Day is really more about the country’s national hero, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, than its actual independence!  In this article, you’ll learn more Mexican Independence Day facts, delve into the country’s history, and explore the most popular traditions.  Let’s get started. 1. What is Mexican Independence Day? Each year on September 16, Mexicans celebrate their country’s Día de la Independencia ("Independence Day"). The most important holiday in the country, Mexican Independence Day marks the date in 1810 when Mexico took its first major step toward gaining independence from... Show more

It’s amazing how a person can permeate a country’s culture at one point in time, and have their influence carried over through the years. While Spain certainly has a number of important historical figures, St. James is arguably one of the most popular. So much so that he has his own feast day each year, which we’ll talk about in this article. Let’s get started. 1. What is Día de Santiago? On Día de Santiago, or St. James Day, Spain celebrates its patron saint. Saint James is credited with bringing Christianity to the country around the time of the Moorish occupation. However, upon returning to Israel, he was killed and his remains were sent back to Spain, near Galicia. From there, St. James’s remains were taken... Show more

What are your favorite things about summer? For me, I think it’s the food and the sunshine! I could do without all the bugs, though… In Spain, two of the highlights of summer are the Midsummer festival and the St. John’s Eve holiday. Spain is alight during this time, celebrating the longest day (Midsummer) and shortest night (St. John’s Eve) of the year. In this article, you’ll learn about traditions for St. John’s Eve and Midsummer in Spanish culture. There’s so much going on that it would be difficult to cover everything, but we’ll do our best. ;) Let’s get started! 1. An Overview of St. John’s Eve & Spanish Midsummer St. John’s Eve is a popular holiday in the Spanish-speaking world, particularly near the... Show more

On Labor Day, Mexico both commemorates the events leading up to the implementation of the Mexican Constitution of 1917 and takes a day off from the same-old-same-old of work. In this article, you’ll learn more about the origins of this holiday, how to celebrate Labor Day in Mexico, and some useful vocabulary! Let’s get started. 1. What is Labor Day? On the Labor Day holiday, Mexico reflects on the history of labor in the country and celebrates the 1917 Constitution that allowed for better workers’ rights. For many years (particularly in the late nineteenth century), Mexican workers faced the plight of poor working conditions, lower wages than their American counterparts, a lack of respect, and the inability to... Show more

Semana Santa, or Holy Week in Spain, is a Christian holiday season widely celebrated throughout the country. This holiday has a long history in Spain, and traditions today are a mix of the old and new. In this article, you’ll learn what the most important holy days of this week represent, how the Spanish celebrate Holy Week as a whole, and more facts about Spanish Holy Week. Let’s get started! 1. What is Holy Week? In Spain, Holy Week is a major celebration period that starts on Palm Sunday and ends the day before Easter. Thus, this week is composed of six very important days for Christian Catholics in the country. However, four of these days tend to be more fervently celebrated than the others: Palm Sunday... Show more

On Mexican Flag Day (Dia de la Bandera), the people of Mexico celebrate their country’s flag and the aspects of independence it depicts. This is a significant holiday in Mexico, and one draped in colorful symbolism. In this article, you’ll learn about National Flag Day, Mexico’s gradual victory toward independence from Spain, and more fun facts about the Flag of Mexico. Let’s get started! 1. What is National Flag’s Day in Mexico? In Mexico, National Flag Day is a day set aside to honor the Mexican Flag. This holiday has its origins in 1935, when a Bank of Mexico employee (Benito Ramírez) set up a special honor guard to celebrate the Flag of Mexico. Five years later, in 1940, National Flag’s Day became an official holiday at... Show more

A recent study has indicated that Spanish speaking countries are rising in popularity as study abroad destinations for international students. From Spain to Mexico to Costa Rica if you’re looking to study abroad, Spanish speaking countries are proving to be the ultimate destinations. Second only to Mandarin Chinese, Spanish has one of the largest numbers of native speakers in the world. Native Spanish speakers span countries and continents, and learning Spanish will give you linguistic access to a huge portion of the world’s population, as well as a window into a diverse medley of cultures across the Americas and Europe. As globalization continues to bring the world closer together, it’s clear that students are recognizing the... Show more