Teach Spanish Months of the Year: December in Spanish

El mes de Diciembre, or December in Spanish, is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian and Julian calendar. Also, December is the last of seven months that have 31 days. 

December got its name from the Latin word “decem”, which means ten because it was the tenth month of the Roman calendar before January and February were added. With time, “decem” evolved to December in English and Diciembre in Spanish.

Because December is the last month of the year, it is really important for a lot of people who consider it “closure” or a way of finishing something. It is also important for several religions and beliefs. Want to know more about December in Spanish? Let’s begin!

The Solstice

During December, there is a really important Astronomic event known as “solstice”. Depending on which hemisphere you are in, there’s a different kind of solstice that takes place. 

If you are in the Northern hemisphere, from December 20th to the 23rd, the winter solstice takes place. In Spanish, it is called solsticio de invierno, and it marks the Earth’s axis maximum tilt away from the Sun.  This day is the shortest day of the year, with little daylight and the longest night. 

On the other hand, if you are in the Southern hemisphere, from December 20th to the 23rd, el solsticio de verano, or summer solstice in Spanish, will take place. Contrary to the winter solstice, on this day, the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and is the day with the longest period of daylight and a short night. 

Here are some words you can find useful when learning about the summer and winter solstice when talking about December in Spanish:

Events and Celebrations During December in Spanish

December, being the last month of the year, is full of celebrations, commemorations, and events. Is a really important month for several religions and it commemorates important events all around the world. This blog post will center around those celebrations and important dates in Latin America and Spain, so you can learn and discuss them when talking about December in Spanish. Let’s get to it! 

Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe

Celebrated in Mexico and Guatemala, la Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe), takes place on December 12th. 

La Fiesta de la Virgen de Guadalupe commemorates the day that, according to the legend, the Virgin Mary appeared to a Chichimeca native named Juan Diego Cuauhtlataotzin, in the Tepeyac hill. She told him to go before the first Mexican Bishop, called Juan de Zumarraga, and ask him to build a temple for her in Mexico. When the bishop asked Juan Diego to bring him proof of the encounter, the Virgin appeared to him one last time and gave Juan Diego the order to fill his ayate— a cloth used to transport the harvest— with flowers and bring it back to the bishop.

When the bishop opened the ayate, the flowers gave way to a “print” of the Virgin Mary, who had mestizo (mixed) features. 

The Virgin of Guadalupe and her venerations are part of the Mexican culture and identity. The Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City is the most visited Catholic shrine in the world and the world’s third most visited religious place. 

Celebración en México 

The celebration of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico is one of the largest in the country, and there are several ways the devotees of the Guadalupana celebrate her. Here are some examples in Spanish:

Hacer altares caseros en honor a la Virgen de Guadalupe
Make homemade altars in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Cantar las mañanitas a la medianoche del 12 de diciembre frente a la Basílica de Guadalupe.
Sing las mañanitas on December 12th at midnight in front of the Basilica of Guadalupe.

Cantar con Mariachis al terminar la Misa en honor a la Guadalupana.
Sing with mariachis at the end of the mass in honor of la Guadalupana.

Hacer una peregrinación como penitencia.
Do a peregrination as a penitence.

Celebración en Guatemala

In Guatemala, the celebration begins on December 11th, at 11:30 am with several formal acts. At 7:30 pm a serenata (serenade) takes place to honor the Virgin of Guadalupe. At midnight on the 12th people sing las mañanitas —a traditional song that is sung to wake up someone the day of their birthday, or during their birthday— and fireworks are fired. 

Then at 12:15 am a mass takes place, and normally there are Mariachis to sing at the end of it. At 5:00 am people get together to pray and at 2:00 pm a procession takes place near the Guadalupe’s Temple in Guatemala City. This procession ends at 11:30 pm. 

Navidad

La Navidad (Christmas) is one of the most important religious and secular celebrations in all America Latina and Spain. 

Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus for those who practice Judeo-Christian religions. And for those who are not religious, Christmas is a time to enjoy with family and friends and sharing light and good vibes. 

Christmas celebration in most Spanish-speaking countries is almost the same, because of the Spanish influence on the area. Some traditions go back even to the time of the colony! Here are some traditions that are practiced throughout all Latin America and Spain to celebrate Christmas.

Nacimientos 

Los Nacimientos are nativity scenes of the birth of Jesus, and each one is different from the other. Some Nacimientos are done in a little space in the house, while others take a whole room because of the religious figurines and their size. You can buy these figurines in Christmas markets or you can make them yourself.
For a Nacimiento to be correct, it only has to include baby Jesus, his parents, some animals, and the shepherds. Then, it can be big or small, really complicated or simplistic, expensive or cheap. What is important is for it to represent Nativity and the good news of the birth of Jesus.

Las Posadas 

This tradition comes from the bible passage where Mary and Joseph are trying to find a place to stay the night after getting to Belen. 

The tradition consists of the participants carrying a small procession of Mary and Joseph around a small area of their neighborhood while singing a traditional song about posadas and wanting to rest. In some places, several houses deny them rest, in other places, they just walk around for a while before getting to the designated house that will “host” them. 

The people that carry the procession and those who accompany them get into the house and with the hosts they pray, sing, and then eat and drink food and beverages traditional to the season. 

Pastorelas

Also known as posadas, these are theatrical dramatizations of Nativity. Las pastorelas can be short, long, serious, or funny. Sometimes they are made for adults, and other times they are made for the whole family. They are normally accompanied by music. The ultimate goal of the Pastorela is to share the good news of the birth of Jesus. 

Nochebuena 

One of the most interesting differences between how Christmas is celebrated in Latin America and the rest of the world is Nochebuena, known as Christmas eve in English. 

In many places, Nochebuena is synonymous with Christmas and is part of the official holiday. Latin American families get together on December 24th, the day of Christmas eve, and they eat, share time together, give each other gifts, and then wait until midnight to celebrate the birth of Jesus with fireworks, or having dinner at midnight. Other families use this day to visitar, which means going to visit friends and family to wish them a Merry Christmas. 

It is common to pull all-nighters on this day, especially for the kids and young people in the family who stay awake to play around with their presents. And on the 25th, people also get together with the rest of the people they couldn’t be with on the 24th.

You can’t talk about December in Spanish and not talk about Christmas! For that reason, here is a vocabulary list so you can talk about this celebration like a native Spanish speaker:

El Día de los Inocentes

Known officially as el Día de los Santos Inocentes, the Day of the Innocents, as is known in English, is celebrated on December 28th. This day commemorates the death of all those kids under 2 years that the bible depicted were killed by King Herod when searching for baby Jesus and his family.

But in several countries in Latin America and Spain, besides the religious ceremony held for the Innocents, there is a particular tradition that takes place: playing pranks. This is like the Hispanoamerican version of April’s Fools, with cute, small pranks, more for laughs than anything else. 

When you prank someone you have to tell them ¡Por inocente! (for innocent!) so they know you just pranked them! 

Activities to Do During December in Spanish

December is a really fun month! While in the Northern hemisphere it is really cold, in the Southern hemisphere they are in the middle of the summer! This means that a lot of activities that are traditional in the north aren’t in the south. But it doesn’t matter where you are, the following activities are the best to celebrate Christmas time wherever you are! 

Learn a Villancico! 

Los villancicos or Spanish Christmas carols are a great way to celebrate during December in Spanish! So why not learn a villancico to sing with your friends and family? Here are two that are short and traditional in Latin America! 

Los Peces en el Río:

Pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río
Pero mira cómo beben por ver al Dios nacido
Beben y beben y vuelven a beber
Los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer.
La Virgen se está peinando
Entre cortina y cortina
Los cabellos son de oro
Y el peine de plata fina.
Pero mira cómo beben los peces en el río
Pero mira cómo beben por ver al Dios nacido
Beben y beben y vuelven a beber
Los peces en el río por ver a Dios nacer.

But watch the fish drink in the river
But look how they drink to see the God born
They drink and they drink and they drink again
The fish in the river to see God Born.
The Virgin is combing her hair
Between curtain and curtain
The hair is golden
And the fine silver comb.
But watch the fish drink in the river
But look how they drink to see the God born
They drink and they drink and they drink again
The fish in the river to see God Born.

El Burrito Sabanero

Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén
Con mi burrito sabanero, voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven
Voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven
Voy camino de Belén
El lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero
El lucerito mañanero ilumina mi sendero
Si me ven, si me ven
Voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven
Voy camino de Belén
Con mi cuatrico voy cantando, mi burrito va trotando
Con mi cuatrico voy cantando, mi burrito va trotando
Si me ven, si me ven
Voy camino de Belén
Si me ven, si me ven
Voy camino de Belén
Tuki tuki tuki tuki
Tuki tuki tuki ta
Apúrate, mi burrito
Que ya vamos a llegar

With my sabanero donkey, I’m on my way to Bethlehem
With my sabanero donkey, I’m on my way to Bethlehem
If they see me, if they see me
I am going to Bethlehem
If they see me, if they see me
I am going to Bethlehem
The morning light illuminates my path
The morning light illuminates my path
If they see me, if they see me
I am going to Bethlehem
If they see me, if they see me
I am going to Bethlehem
With my quad I sing, my little donkey is trotting
With my quad I sing, my little donkey is trotting
If they see me, if they see me
I am going to Bethlehem
If they see me, if they see me
I am going to Bethlehem
Tuki tuki tuki tuki
Tuki tuki tuki ta
Hurry up, my little donkey
That we are going to arrive

Don´t Wait Until December to Practice Your Spanish!

Like with everything else in this life, Spanish has to be constantly practiced so you can learn and get better at your fluency. Don’t wait until the year is over to begin your journey to learn Spanish! Sign up today for a 1-on-1 free class with a native Spanish speaker teacher and become part of the more than 24,000 monthly enrolled students at Homeschool Spanish Academy that also are in their learning journey like you! What are you waiting for? 

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Carmen Rizzo

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I’m a native Spanish speaker from Guatemala with a B.A. in Psychology. I have a passion for teaching Sunday school in my spare time and for learning and sharing valuable information. I'm a cat lover who gets excited over cartoons, anime, and video games. I dabble in digital illustration and animation. I'm inspired by sharing my culture, traditions, food, and beliefs with others, while learning about theirs in return.

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