La Navidad

Christmas in Spanish speaking countries.

The Gift Bearers

Vocabulario importante

• La Navidad- Christmas• La Nochebuena- Christmas Eve• Los regalos- the gifts/presents• Los zapatos- the shoes• Los niños- the children• La iglesia- the church• Los Tres Magos- The Three Wise Men• Los camellos- the camels

La Navidad en España On Nochebuena, familias

gather to feast and celebrate around a nativity scene, not a tree

On Navidad, familias go to iglesia to worship

(photo of La Sagrada Familia en Barcelona)

The Gift Bearers- Los Tres Magos

• Arrive on Jan. 6, because that is when Los Tres Magos gave their gifts to baby Jesus

• Los niños set out their zapatos with straw for the camellos, and in the morning, gifts have replaced the straw

La Navidad en Mexico

• Gifts are put under a decorated tree by Papa Noel and opened on Dec. 25 (new tradition)

• More gifts are brought by Los Tres Magos and opened on Jan. 6 (old tradition)

Los Regalos- en Colombia

• El niño (the Christ Child)- not Papá Noel-brings a few gifts (church down plays the gift giving part) on Christmas

• Santa is seen in decorations and posing for pictures at shopping malls

The Legend of the Poinsettia

The legend of the poinsettia comes from Mexico. It tells of a girl named Maria and her little brother Pablo. They were very poor but always looked forward to the Christmas festival. Each year a large manger scene was set up in the village church, and the days before Christmas were filled with parades and parties. The two children loved Christmas, but were always saddened because they had no money to buy presents. They especially wished that they could give something to the church for the Baby Jesus. But they had nothing. One Christmas Eve, Maria and Pablo set out for church to attend the service. On their way they picked some weeds growing along the roadside and decided to take them as their gift to the Baby Jesus in the manger scene. Of course they were teased by other children when they arrived with their gift, but they said nothing for they knew they had given what they could. Maria and Pablo began placing the green plants around the manger and miraculously, the green top leaves turned into bright red petals, and soon the manger was surrounded by beautiful star-like flowers and so we see them today.

Let’s review!• How do you say Christmas and Christmas

Eve in Spanish?• Who brings regalos to los niños in

– Spain?– Mexico?– Colombia?o Explain the legend of the Poinsettia.