Spanish One Culture Review
Overview
This is a brief review of some of the cultural concepts learned in Spanish One. Topics include: Day of the Dead, quinceañera, and Don Quixote.
Day of the Dead
Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1 and November 2 in Mexico, some parts of Central America, and even in the United States.
Important elements of Day of the Dead are: ofrendas, marigolds (cempasuchil), calaveras, calacas, and monarch butterflies.
Day of the Dead has Aztec beginnings, with some Catholic influence. To celebrate this holiday, families gather in homes and in cemeteries and decorate altars and gravesites to honor their loved ones. To decorate, they use marigolds, photos, foods, and other items that were important to the loved one.
Photo retrieved from: The New York Times
Quinceañera
A quinceañera is a large celebration to commemorate a Hispanic girl turning 15 years old.
To celebrate, the event is often planned months in advance, and most often includes a lavish dress for the girl, and invitations to the girl's family and friends.
A notable event that occurs during the party is the changing of shoes. The quinceañera removes the flat shoes she is wearing, and puts on high heels. This signifies her passage into womanhood.
Photo retrieved from: David's Bridal
Don Quixote
Don Quixote is a world-famous novel that was written by Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes. The book was written in two parts: Part 1 was written 1605, and Part 2 in 1610.
The novel follows the story of Don Quixote, who has set off on an adventure to honor his love, Dulcinea. He is accompanied by Sancho Panza. The pair meet many difficulties on their quest, including Don Quixote fighting windmills, thinking they are giants.
Photo retrieved from: Encyclopedia Britannica