¡Paz y felicidad! Peace and Joy! Talking about the Holiday Season in Spanish

In this post we’ll learn vocabulary and expressions that you can use to talk about the holiday season in Spanish. First we’ll learn holiday greetings that you can use for Christmas and Hanukkah. Then we’ll look at vocabulary that you can use to talk about holiday decorations. After that we’ll learn how to talk about gifts and gift giving in Spanish. Next we’ll learn how to talk about the holiday spirit. Finally, we’ll learn how to wish people a happy new year in Spanish and enjoy the festivities.

If you’d like to learn more about the customs and foods of Christmas in different Latin American countries, check out this post.

Greetings for the Holiday Season in Spanish

The first thing you may want to know how to say is of course Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah. Here are some other expressions you can use to wish people well during the holiday season. We’ll come back to Happy New Year in Spanish later.

• ¡Feliz Navidad!
  Merry Christmas!
• ¡Feliz Hanukkah! / ¡Feliz Janucá!
  Happy Hanukkah!
• ¡Disfruta las festividades!
  Enjoy the Holidays!

• ¿Celebras la Navidad/Hanukkah?
  Do you celebrate Christmas/Hanukkah?
• ¡Disfruta esta época del año!
  Enjoy this time of year!
• Espero que pases un buen diciembre.
  I hope you have a good December.
• Espero que veas a tus amigos y a tu familia.
  I hope you see your friends and family.
• Te deseo paz, salud y felicidad.
  I wish you peace, health, and happiness!
• Espero que recibas muchos regalos.
  I hope you get a lot of presents.

Decorations during the Holiday Season in Spanish

Lots of people put up decorations this time of year, so you may want to say: el árbol de Navidad (Christmas tree), la menorá (menorah), la estrella (star), la vela (candle), la campana (bell), luces coloridas (colorful lights), un nacimiento / un pesebre (nativity scene), el Niño Jesús (baby Jesus), un ángel (angel), los tres Reyes Magos (three kings), Papá Noel / San Nicolás / Santa Claus (Santa Claus), un muñeco de nieve (snowman), un reno (reindeer).

• Este fin de semana vamos a comprar un árbol de Navidad.
  We’re going to buy a Christmas tree this weekend.
• Vamos a decorar el árbol de Navidad.
  Let’s decorate the Christmas tree.
• Vamos a encender la menorá.
  Let’s light the menorah.
• Una menorá lleva nueve velas.
  A menorah has nine candles.
• En la casa hay luces de colores.
  There are colorful lights on the house.
• Los adornos del árbol de Navidad son hermosos.
  The Christmas tree ornaments are beautiful.
• Todos los años ponemos un pesebre/un nacimiento.
  We put up a manger/nativity scene every year.
• Mi familia pone adornos de Hanukkah.
  My family puts up Hanukkah decorations.

Holiday Gifts

Exchanging presents is of course a big part of the holiday season, so you may want to say: un regalo / un presente (gift/present), el papel de regalo (wrapping paper), una tarjeta (card).

• Tengo que comprar regalos para un montón de amigos y familiares.
  I have to buy gifts for a lot of friends and relatives.
• Te tengo un regalo.
  I got a present for you.
• ¿Qué me vas a regalar?
  What did you get for me?
• Abre tu regalo.
  Unwrap your present.
• ¡Qué buen regalo!
  This is a great present!
• Eres muy generoso/a.
  You’re so generous.
• Eres muy considerado/a.
  You’re so thoughtful.
• Me encanta mi regalo.
  I love my present.
• Este regalo lo hice yo mismo/misma para ti.
  I made this gift for you myself.
• Papá Noel deja los regalos debajo del árbol de Navidad.
  Santa Claus left gifts under the Christmas tree.
• Recibimos ocho regalos por Hanukkah.
  We get eight gifts for Hanukkah.

The Spirit of the Holiday Season in Spanish

The holiday season means different things to different people.

• Me encanta la época de festividades.
  I love the holiday season.
• Hay música navideña por todas partes.
  There is Christmas music everywhere.
• Estoy deseando que lleguen las festividades.
  I’m looking forward to the holiday.
• Me encanta la Navidad.
  I love Christmas.
• Estoy emocionado de ver a mi familia por Hanukkah.
  I’m excited to see my family for Hanukkah.
• Deseo la paz mundial.
  I hope for peace on earth.
• Vamos a donar regalos a las familias pobres.
  We’re donating gifts for poor families.
• Es importante donar comida a los necesitados.
  It’s important to give food to people who need it.
• Doy gracias por mi familia y mis amigos.
  I’m thankful for my family and friends.

Happy New Year in Spanish

Soon enough, the year will come to an end, and people everywhere will drink a toast to the new year. So you’ll want to know how to wish people a happy new year in Spanish, and how to talk about all of the festivities.

• ¿Vas a ir a una fiesta de Nochevieja?
  Are you going to a New Year’s Eve party?
• Tenemos una gran cena con familia y amigos.
  We eat a big dinner with family and friends.
• Voy a invitar a unos amigos a una fiesta.
  I’m inviting friends to a party.
• ¡Feliz año nuevo!
  Happy New Year!
• ¡Ya es medianoche! ¡Tomemos champán!
  It’s midnight, let’s drink champagne!
• ¡Salud!
  Cheers!
• ¡Paz, salud y felicidad para este nuevo año!
  Peace, health, and happiness in the new year!
• ¿Cuáles son tus propósitos de año nuevo?
  What are your New Year’s Resolutions?
• Me quiero poner en forma para este nuevo año.
  I want to get in shape in the new year.
• Quiero aprender otro idioma en este año nuevo.
  I want to learn a new language in the new year.
• Te deseo mucho éxito en este nuevo año.
  I wish you great success in the new year.
• Espero que seas muy feliz en este nuevo año.
  I hope you are very happy in the new year.

No matter what holiday you celebrate, we wish you great health and happiness, and a very happy new year in Spanish: ¡Feliz año nuevo!

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We hope you’ve enjoyed learning how to talk about the holiday season in Spanish and how to wish people a happy new year in Spanish. If you’d like to learn more, check out our other posts on Spanish language, culture, and more. If you’re looking for convenient and affordable live Spanish lessons with a real teacher, visit The Language Garage. Our lessons are affordable and fun, and they’re given online in a virtual classroom, so it doesn’t matter where you live or work – we can come to you. We have flexible options, with a free trial so that you can decide if there’s a fit. Check us out!

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