Fiestas y celebraciones
Celebrations for the Experiencias theme, with a group on Peruvian festivals that will not appear in a European textbook and is exactly the sort of cultural detail an examiner rewards.
Celebrar
la fiestafnoun
the party
Also a public holiday: mañana es fiesta.
el cumpleañosmnoun
the birthday
Always with the s, singular and plural.
cumplir años
to have a birthday
Cumplo veinte el martes. · I turn twenty on Tuesday.
Spanish says you fulfil years. Never soy veinte.
el regalomnoun
the present
la tarjetafnoun
the card
la velafnoun
the candle
el pastelmnoun
the cake
La torta in Peru and Argentina; la tarta in Spain; el pastel in Mexico.
brindarverb
to make a toast
Brindamos por los novios. · We toasted the couple.
felicitarverb
to congratulate
Felicitar a alguien, with the personal a.
Las fechas
la Navidadfnoun
Christmas
la Nochebuenafnoun
Christmas Eve
The bigger of the two meals in most Spanish-speaking countries.
el Año Nuevomnoun
New Year
la Nocheviejafnoun
New Year's Eve
la Semana Santafnoun
Easter week
el Día de la Madremnoun
Mother's Day
el aniversariomnoun
the anniversary
Not a birthday. A birthday is el cumpleaños.
Fiestas de Perú
Fiestas Patrias
Peru's national holiday
28 and 29 July. The whole country stops.
el Inti Raymi
the Inca sun festival
24 June in Cusco. Quechua for sun festival.
la procesiónfnoun
the procession
El Señor de los Milagros in October fills the streets of Lima in purple.
el desfilemnoun
the parade
la pollada
the fundraising party
Peruvian: a neighbourhood party where chicken is sold to raise money for someone.
la serenata
the birthday serenade
Singing to someone at midnight on their birthday. Common in Peru.
Contarlo
reunirseverb
to get together
Nos reunimos toda la familia. · The whole family gets together.
disfrazarseverb
to dress up
bailarverb
to dance
durarverb
to last
La fiesta duró hasta las cuatro. · The party went on until four.
pasarlo bien
to have a good time
Pasarlo in Spain, pasarla in Latin America. Both fine.
emocionanteadjective
exciting
A false friend: it does not mean emotional, which is emotivo.