Weinachten - essential German words and phrases for Christmas

Posted by simonager under German, Learning a language

Christmas (Weinachten) in Germany is the most important annual celebration. The festivities begin on the forth Sunday before Christmas, or the first day of Advent. Families set up Advent wreathes (Adventskranze) and Christmas / Advent markets (Christkindlmärkte) traditionally start. Shops stay open later during this period as well.
On 6th December, St Nicholas’ Day (Nikolaus), on [...]

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Tags: christmas, christmas eve, christmas markets, culture, december, food, german, germany, tradition

How the Spanish celebrate Christmas

Posted by simonager under Cactus Languages Abroad

The Christmas season in Spain starts at the beginning of December, when towns and cities all over the country are decorated with Christmas trees, lights and nativity displays (naciemento/belen). Some of the nativity displays are very elaborate and a few even feature live actors and animals. Christmas markets selling fruit, flowers, sweets, candles, decorations and [...]

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Tags: christmas, christmas market, december, events, new year, spain, spanish

Christmas with Radishes, Anyone?

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Languages Abroad, Learning a language, Spanish

Advent markets, yule logs, mistletoe, gluhwein…and radishes? Christmas celebrations around the world are as varied and wonderful as the people and cultures who hold them, but there can be few traditions as exotic or unlikely as Mexico’s Noche de Rábanos, or Night of the Radishes.

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Tags: christmas, december, mexico, night of the radishes, noche de rabanos, oaxaca

Cactus Christmas Breaks

Posted by admin under Cactus Languages Abroad, Press Release

Cactus offers a great escape this Christmas
New range of specialist language holidays tempt Brits away from the Queen’s Speech
6 November 2007: Cactus, one of the world’s leading language training specialists, today unveils a series of new holiday packages designed for those wanting to escape the turkey and tinsel and try [...]

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Tags: cactus, christmas, language holidays, travel

The Best Christmas Advent Markets in Germany This December

Posted by Sarah under Cactus Languages Abroad, German, Learning a language

There’s no better place to get festive than in Germany’s Advent markets this Christmas

Christmas or Advent markets (Weihnachtsmärkte) are outdoor markets that can be found all over Germany during December in the period leading up to Christmas. They usually consists of stalls selling food, wine, toys, candles, sweets, Christmas decorations and other Christmas related goods. [...]

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Tags: advent, christmas, december, germany, markets