In the very Catholic Mexico, many celebrate the religious holiday known as Candlemas (or Dia de la Candelaria in Spanish). By learning about this holiday, you’re also immersing yourself in one of the most important aspects of Mexican culture: its people’s religious beliefs, and how they’re expressed through celebration. So, what is Candlemas Day in Mexico? What are the most common Mexican holidays and traditions surrounding this holiday? Learn more about the significance of the Nativity scene in this holiday and more, with SpanishPod101.com. 1. What is Spanish Candlemas? Candlemas in Mexico may be best known as the day that Mexicans finally take down the Nativity scene that they put up before Christmas. This is a very religious... Show more

Most everyone is familiar with this day, as it is celebrated nearly everywhere the world. Yet, when exactly is April Fools’ Day? And where did April Fools come from? April Fools’ Day is observed on April 1st every year. This day of jokes and pranks is believed to have stemmed from the 16th-century calendar change in France, when New Year’s Day was moved from April 1 to January 1. This action was taken due to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar. However, a few people were resistant to the calendar change, so they continued to observe New Year’s Day on April 1st, rather than the new date. They were referred to as the “April Fools”, and others started playing mocking tricks on them. This custom endured, and is practiced to this day... Show more

Learn all the Spanish New Year wishes online, in your own time, on any device! Join SpanishPod101 for a special Spanish New Year celebration! Can you relate to the year passing something like this: “January, February, March - December!”? Many people do! Quantum physics teaches us that time is relative, and few experiences illustrate this principle as perfectly as when we reach the end of a year. To most of us, it feels like the old one has passed in the blink of an eye, while the new year lies ahead like a very long journey! However, New Year is also a time to celebrate beginnings, and to say goodbye to what has passed. This is true in every culture, no matter when New Year is celebrated. So, how do you say Happy New Year in... Show more

Christmas across Spain, Mexico, and Latin America blends Catholic heritage, indigenous influences, and local culture. For visitors, the holiday season is an ideal time to experience food, music, and long-standing customs. This guide explores Christmas in Spain and Mexico, and general Latin American Christmas traditions, while weaving in essential cultural insights and fun facts. Table of Contents Christmas in Spain Christmas in Mexico Christmas in Latin America Holiday Greetings and Wishes for the Holiday Season Conclusion 1. Christmas in Spain Christmas in Spain lasts from early December through January 6th, combining religious ceremonies, family gatherings, and public celebrations. December in Spain is filled with lights,... Show more

Learn 4 tools and techniques to stop translating in your head and start thinking in Going through lessons is enough to get by and learn the basics of , but to truly become fluent you need to be able to think in . This will allow you to have conversations with ease, read smoothly, and comprehensively understand natives. To do this, you need to go beyond just completing daily or weekly lessons. We naturally translate in our heads because it's viewed as the easiest way to learn the definitions needed when learning a language. This way of learning can actually hinder your skills and fluency later on. If your brain has to make neural connections between the word you're learning, what it means in your native tongue, and the physical object... Show more

Nativity scenes are very traditional Christmas decorations depicting the birth of Jesus Christ. It is set up before Christmas, traditionally on December 8th, according to the celebration of the Conception and stays up until February 2nd, the day of Candlemas. El nacimiento es una decoración importante durante las fiestas de invierno. The nativity scene is an important decoration during winter holidays. P.S. Get Your Daily Dose of Spanish with 1-Minute Mini-Lessons The Daily Dose of Spanish is a Calendar that gives you new, 1-minute lessons every day. Why? Because learning a little every day is easy, strengthens your habits and motivation and you improve your Spanish over time. Lessons range from culture and holidays to grammar,... Show more

Here's how to ask if someone speaks English: ¿Hablas inglés? Do you speak English? Here are some ways to answer this question: Sí, hablo inglés. Yes, I speak English. No, no hablo inglés. No, I don't speak English. Do you speak English? Click here and learn more! P.S. Get Your Daily Dose of Spanish with 1-Minute Mini-Lessons The Daily Dose of Spanish is a Calendar that gives you new, 1-minute lessons every day. Why? Because learning a little every day is easy, strengthens your habits and motivation and you improve your Spanish over time. Lessons range from culture and holidays to grammar, slang, phrases and more. Find it in the Spanish Resources menu or in the Quick Links menu on your Dashboard. Click here to check out... Show more

A piñata is a decorated container that sometimes holds candy or small presents. They are mainly used at birthday parties, but are also common during other celebrations. People take turns trying to break the piñata with a stick. Once it’s been broken, the candy and small presents fall out for people to collect. Celebramos los cumpleaños con una piñata. We celebrate birthdays with a piñata. P.S. Get Your Daily Dose of Spanish with 1-Minute Mini-Lessons The Daily Dose of Spanish is a Calendar that gives you new, 1-minute lessons every day. Why? Because learning a little every day is easy, strengthens your habits and motivation and you improve your Spanish over time. Lessons range from culture and holidays to grammar, slang, phrases and... Show more

'Aduana' means 'customs' in ‪Spanish. Here are some words picked by Alex: permiso de reingreso: re-entry permit cuarentena: quarantine pasaporte: passport Learn more words about customs! Click here and learn more with Alex! P.S. Get Your Daily Dose of Spanish with 1-Minute Mini-Lessons The Daily Dose of Spanish is a Calendar that gives you new, 1-minute lessons every day. Why? Because learning a little every day is easy, strengthens your habits and motivation and you improve your Spanish over time. Lessons range from culture and holidays to grammar, slang, phrases and more. Find it in the Spanish Resources menu or in the Quick Links menu on your Dashboard. Click here to check out the Daily Dose of Spanish Calendar.

PEMEX: PEMEX PEMEX is the largest Mexican company and biggest taxpayer in the country, and is also one of the biggest industries in Latin America. According to National data, the company’s business alone makes up 10% of the gross domestic product and represents over 30% of the federal income in Mexico. PEMEX is one of the few petroleum industries around the world that is involved in the petroleum process from start to finish. Just like big oil companies in the rest of the world, this Mexican company has recently invested heavily in deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Here is an example of PEMEX being used in a sentence: PEMEX es una empresa muy conocida en México. (PEMEX is a well known company in Mexico.) Want to learn... Show more