Holidays in Spanish: Essential Vocabulary & Phrases for Celebrations
Holidays and celebrations are vibrant threads in the fabric of any culture, and learning how to talk about them in Spanish opens up a whole new world of cultural understanding and connection. Whether it’s a solemn commemoration, a joyful family gathering, or simply a well-deserved break, Spanish has specific words to describe these special occasions.
In Spanish, it’s helpful to distinguish between a public holiday (often a non-working day) and a general celebration or a vacation.
- Día festivo / Día feriado: Refers to a public holiday, usually recognized by law and often a non-working day. For a definitive linguistic definition, you can consult the Royal Spanish Academy’s entry for festivo.
- Celebración / Fiesta: More general terms for a celebration or party, which may or may not be official holidays.
- Vacaciones: Refers to a vacation or time off from work or school.
Ready to celebrate and discuss special dates in Spanish? Let’s dive into the essential vocabulary!
Common Holidays and Celebrations in Spanish
Here’s a comprehensive list of popular holidays and related terms:
| English | Spanish | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Holidays | Día festivo / Día feriado, Las fiestas | **Día festivo/feriado** is for public holidays; **Las fiestas** is for general holidays/festivities. |
| Public holiday | Día feriado | |
| Birthday | Cumpleaños | |
| Valentine’s Day | Día de San Valentín / Día de los Enamorados / Día del Amor y la Amistad | "Day of Love and Friendship" is common too. |
| Mother’s Day | Día de la Madre / Día de las Madres | |
| Father’s Day | Día del Padre | |
| Labor Day | Día del Trabajo / Día del Trabajador | |
| Women’s Day | Día de la Mujer | |
| Independence Day | Día de la Independencia | Specific date varies by country. |
| Black Friday | Viernes Negro | |
| Teacher’s Day | Día del Maestro | |
| April Fool's Day | Día de los Inocentes | Celebrated on December 28th in some regions. |
| Carnival | Carnaval | Pre-Lent celebrations. |
| Spring Break | Vacaciones de primavera | |
| Holy Week | Semana Santa | The week before Easter. |
| Easter | Pascua | |
| Thanksgiving | Día de Acción de Gracias | Predominantly celebrated in the US, but recognized elsewhere. |
| St. Patrick's Day | Día de San Patricio | |
| Halloween | Halloween / Noche de Brujas | **Víspera de Todos los Santos** (All Saints' Eve) is rarely used informally. |
| Hanukkah | Janucá | |
| Christmas Eve | Nochebuena | |
| Christmas | Navidad | |
| Christmas Season | Temporada Navideña | |
| New Year's Eve | Nochevieja | |
| New Year's Day | Día de Año Nuevo | |
| Three Kings' Day | Día de Reyes | Celebrated on January 6th. |
| Vacations | Vacaciones | Refers to time off from work/school. |
Using Holiday Vocabulary: Grammar Tips
When talking about holidays in Spanish, there are a few simple grammar rules that will make your sentences sound natural.
Using the Definite Article
When referring to a specific holiday, especially those that include the word “día” (day), you’ll almost always use the masculine singular definite article “el” before it, because “día” is a masculine noun.
- El Día del Trabajo es el viernes. – Labor Day is on Friday.
- El Día de las Madres es una fecha muy especial. – Mother’s Day is a very special date.
- El Día de Reyes es una tradición importante. – Three Kings’ Day is an important tradition.
However, for some major holidays that are proper nouns (like Navidad, Pascua, Semana Santa, Nochebuena, Nochevieja), you’ll often use the definite article “la” or no article at all, especially when talking about something happening on or during them.
*For a deeper dive into how definite articles work in Spanish, explore guide on Definite Articles.
Using the Preposition En
To express that something occurs “on” or “during” a specific holiday, you typically use the preposition “en” (in/on/at).
- Nos vemos en Navidad. – I’ll see you on Christmas.
- ¿Qué haces en Halloween? – What are you doing on Halloween?
- Viajaremos en Semana Santa. – We will travel during Holy Week.
Wishing Happy Holidays and Special Occasions
Wishing someone a happy holiday or special occasion is a warm gesture in Spanish. The most common way to do this is with “¡Feliz…!” (Happy…!). You can also use “¡Felicidades!” (Congratulations!).
Here are some essential phrases:
- ¡Feliz cumpleaños! – Happy birthday! (You can also just say ¡Felicidades! for congratulations).
- ¡Feliz Día de la Mujer! – Happy Women’s Day!
- ¡Felices Fiestas! – Happy holidays! (Used for a general holiday season like Christmas/New Year).
- ¡Feliz Navidad! – Merry Christmas!
- ¡Feliz Janucá! – Happy Hanukkah!
- ¡Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias! – Happy Thanksgiving!
- ¡Feliz Año Nuevo! – Happy New Year!
- ¡Próspero Año Nuevo! – Prosperous New Year! (A more formal or traditional wish).
- ¡Feliz aniversario! – Happy anniversary!
- ¡Felicidades en tu cumpleaños! – Congratulations on your birthday!
Summary: Celebrate in Spanish!
Learning holiday vocabulary in Spanish is a fantastic way to connect with culture and participate in celebrations. Remember these key points:
- Distinguish between día festivo (public holiday), celebración (general celebration), and vacaciones (vacation).
- Use “el” with “día” for specific holiday names.
- Use “en” to say “on” or “during” a holiday.
- Master the simple phrase “¡Feliz + holiday!” to share your good wishes.
