Archive for 'Spanish Culture'
Amarillo, azul y rojo: The Meaning Behind Three South American Flags Posted by Anais on Apr 22, 2019
Have you ever wondered why the banderas (flags) of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela are so alike? In this blog I’ll dust off the history books to tell you why. Back in the 18th century, Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela (as well as certain parts of today’s Peru, Guyana, and Brazil) were unificados into one huge nation…
Survival Spanish for Traveling Posted by sasha on Mar 13, 2019
In my travels around Latin America, I am often told “¡Hablas muy bien español!” (You speak Spanish very well). To be completely honest with you, though, mi español no es muy bueno (my Spanish isn’t very good). I just love traveling, learning about different cultures, and meeting people. This has led me to achieve a…
Spanish words of Amerindian origin: A thriving heritage Posted by Anais on Feb 25, 2019
The Spanish language is without a doubt the result of a cultural mixture dating from the 8th century A.C. onwards, from vulgar Latin to Arabic. One of the most important moments for la lengua de Cervantes came with the first European settlements in the Americas, as that contact meant an abundant flow of indigenous words…
The creepiest Venezuelan horror folktales Posted by Anais on Feb 11, 2019
Horror stories abound in our world. And Venezuela seethes with peculiar tales that form part of its folklore for frightening all kind of listeners, no matter their age. In this post you’ll read Venezuela’s most popular folktales that will certainly give you chills. Although there are different versions of each legend, in this post I’ll…
¿Cómo es la comida colombiana? (What is Colombian food?) Posted by sasha on Feb 7, 2019
In the last year, I’ve written quite a few posts about Colombia for the Spanish blog. I wrote about studying Spanish in Medellín, which I highly recommend as a destination for learning the language. You can also read my post about La Ciudad de la Eterna Primavera (the City of Eternal Spring) and how it’s…
Top Spanish Songs of 2018 (Part One) Posted by sasha on Jan 9, 2019
¿Te gusta la música? (Do you like music?) If you’re like me, you’ll probably answer “¡Me encanta la música!” (“I love music!”). Not only is listening to music fun, but we can also learn something from it. I love listening to Spanish music, whether it’s that hot new reggaeton jam on the radio or a…
Hallacas, gaitas, and baby Jesus: a Venezuelan Christmas Posted by Anais on Dec 24, 2018
Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. It is the moment to forget about diets and how much you despise your noisy neighbors, and to spend time with your loved ones. Navidad in Venezuela is by far the most awaited and important time of the year. El espíritu navideño can be felt…