Culture (e.g. customs, faiths and celebrations)

The International World – Culture (Customs, Faiths and Celebrations)

1. Aim of the Lesson

To develop students’ ability to describe and compare cultural practices, religious traditions and celebrations in Spanish‑speaking countries, using appropriate vocabulary and grammatical structures.

2. Key \cdot ocabulary

Spanish	English	Notes / Example
la costumbre	custom	“Una costumbre muy popular es …”
la tradición	tradition	“La tradición de …”
la fiesta	festival / celebration	“La fiesta de San Fermín”
el día festivo	public holiday	“El día festivo de la Independencia”
la religión	religion	“La religión predominante es el catolicismo.”
el catolicismo	Catholicism
el protestantismo	Protestantism
el sincretismo	syncretism	“El sincretismo entre la religión indígena y el catolicismo.”
el desfile	parade	“El desfile del Día de la Independencia.”
la procesión	procession	“La procesión de Semana Santa.”

3. Cultural Themes

3.1 Customs (Costumbres)

• Daily habits – horario de la siesta, family meals, greeting customs (e.g., dar dos besos).
• Regional variations – differences between Spain, Mexico, Argentina, etc.
• Social etiquette – punctuality, use of formal vs. informal address (tú / usted).

3.2 Faiths (Fé y religiones)

• Predominant religion: Roman Catholicism – its influence on holidays and rituals.
• Other faiths: Protestantism, Indigenous religions, Afro‑Caribbean religions (e.g., Santería, Candomblé).
• Syncretic practices – how indigenous beliefs merge with Catholic rites (e.g., Día de los Muertos).

3.3 Celebrations (Celebraciones)

1. Semana Santa – Holy Week processions, “pasos” (floats), regional differences (Seville vs. Granada).
2. Día de los Muertos (Mexico) – altars, ofrendas, symbolism of skulls (calaveras).
3. La Tomatina (Buñol, Spain) – tomato fight, origins, cultural impact.
4. Las Fallas (Valencia) – creation and burning of “ninots”, fireworks.
5. Independence Days – varied dates (e.g., 16 September in México, 9 July in Argentina) and typical celebrations.

4. Comparative Table: Selected Celebrations

Celebration	Country / Region	Key Features	Typical \cdot ocabulary
Semana Santa	Spain, Mexico, Peru	Processions, “pasos”, penitents, religious music.	la procesión, el paso, el penitente, la cofradía
Día de los Muertos	Mexico	Altars, marigolds, sugar skulls, visiting graves.	el altar, la ofrenda, la calavera, la flor de cempasúchil
La Tomatina	Buñol, Spain	Massive tomato fight, street festival.	el tomate, la batalla, la gente, la calle
Las Fallas	Valencia, Spain	Construction of giant figures, fireworks, burning at night.	el ninot, la hoguera, los fuegos artificiales, la mascletà
Independence Day	Various	Parades, speeches, national symbols, fireworks.	el desfile, el discurso, la bandera, los fuegos artificiales

5. Grammar Focus

Use of the preterite vs. imperfect to describe past celebrations, and the future simple to talk about upcoming festivals.

• Preterite: celebramos, fue, comimos.
• Imperfect: celebrábamos, era, comíamos.
• Future: celebraremos, será, comeremos.

6. Suggested Classroom Activities

1. Research Poster – Students choose a celebration, create a poster in Spanish with key facts, vocabulary and images (drawn or printed).
2. Role‑play Interview – Pair work: one student is a journalist, the other a local resident describing a festival.
3. Comparative Essay – Write a short essay (150‑200 words) comparing a Spanish celebration with one from another Spanish‑speaking country, using comparative structures (más… que, tan… como).
4. Listening Exercise – Play a short audio clip of a festival description; students answer comprehension questions.
5. Vocabulary Quiz – Matching Spanish terms to English definitions, then using them in sentences.

7. Assessment Suggestions

• Written task: description of a celebration (use of past tenses, appropriate adjectives).
• Oral presentation: 2‑minute talk about a custom, with visual aid.
• Multiple‑choice test on cultural vocabulary and factual knowledge.
• Listening comprehension based on a native‑speaker description of a festival.

8. Extension Ideas

• Invite a guest speaker from a local Spanish‑speaking community.
• Organise a mini‑festival in class, with food, music and traditional games.
• Research the impact of globalization on traditional celebrations.