9 Holiday Verbs in Spanish to Learn this December

Across much of Latin America celebrations are already under way. A favorite conversation topic is how different cultures and religions celebrate the December holidays.

This blog and short video lesson draws on traditions from Nicaragua to show how to put these 9 holiday verbs into practice so you can talk about how you’ll celebrate this season.

Download the PDF about La Gritería and La Purisíma to practice your reading comprehension skills and learn more about this unique tradition in Nicaragua.

9 Verbs to Learn this Holiday Season

These two holiday verbs mean basically the same thing: to give a gift. Here in Nicaragua, where this author lives, celebrations kick off with la Purísima y la Gritería, a tradition unique to the country. Catholics form in small groups, visiting altars dedicated to the Virgen Mary and sing songs to show their devotion. In return, they receive a small gift.

Durante la Gritería, los católicos les obsequian o regalan comida, juguetes y artículos de cocina a los grupos de devotos.

So when giving a gift this holiday season, make sure to use the verbs regalar and obsequiar.

A special part of many traditions in December is putting up or setting up decorations. In the case of la Purísima in Nicaragua, Catholic churches, families, and even businesses set up elaborate and beautiful altars dedicated to La Virgen María. 

En la iglesia católica, ellos montaron las decoraciones del altar y tardaron días en armarse.

You’d also use montar and armar to talk about putting up el árbol de Navidad or setting up el pesebre (the Nativity scene).

Did you know that in most of Latin America and Spain, Christmas traditions unfold on La Nochebuena or Christmas Eve? Families celebrate together Christmas Eve, staying up until midnight to honor the birth of El Niño Jesus.

En Nochebuena, las familias celebran con una deliciosa comida y esperan a la medianoche para honrar el nacimiento del Niño Jesus con fuegos artificiales.

You can use celebrar to talk about your holiday traditions and honrar if you have a religious component to your celebrations.

Reunirse – to get together

Spending time with the family is also essential during las fiestas de navideñas in Latin America. Families get together and often prepare a local meal; in Nicaragua, it’s carne asada (grilled meats) or pollo relleno (stuffed chicken). 

Las familias se reúnen la Nochebuena y preparan comidas típicas.

Use this reflexive holiday verb, reunirse, to describe how you and your loved ones celebrate together.

Decorar / adornar – to decorate

Lastly, celebrations in December always include special decorations, so learning how to use this pairing of holiday verbs is especially useful. Just like in North America, in Nicaragua, families love to decorate their homes with Christmas lights and festive displays! Even though winter icons like el polo norte, renos, muñecos de nieve, y árboles pinos, are far from reality in the tropical country, families take great pride in making their homes and yards festive.

La gente decora sus casas con luces navideñas y adorna los patios con iconos navideños.

With the holiday verbs decorar and adornar, you’ll have no problem describing how you make your home festive during the December holidays.

Want to learn more about these Nicaraguan holiday traditions and how to describe your family’s holiday celebrations in Spanish? Be sure to watch the video, where I share a perspective on December celebrations in Nicaragua and verbs you can use to describe your traditions.

Don’t forget to download the PDF about La Gritería and La Purisíma to practice your reading comprehension skills and learn more about this unique tradition in Nicaragua.

Want more holiday Spanish practice? Check out this blog where you can practice writing a holiday card to your loved ones or complete the vocabulary crossword puzzle.