Unit 9: Los días de fiesta

Question 1

What is the purpose of La fiesta de San Pedro?

Answer 1

To honor Saint Peter

Question 2

Where is La fiesta de San Pedro celebrated?

Answer 2

It is celebrated in many parts of Spain, including the autonomous community of Navarra.

Question 3

What is the capital of the autonomous community of Navarra in Spain?

Answer 3

Pamplona

Question 4

What is “los vaqueros” in English?

Answer 4

The cowboys

Question 5

What is “por supuesto” in English?

Answer 5

“Of course”

Question 6

What is “boina” in English?

Answer 6

Beret

Question 7

What is “pañuelo” in English?

Answer 7

Handkerchief

Question 8

What is “paraguas” in English?

Answer 8

Umbrella

Question 9

What is “solo” in English?

Answer 9

Only

Question 10

On which day every year is La fiesta de San Pedro celebrated?

Answer 10

June 29th

Question 11

What are some traditional instruments found at a La fiesta de San Pedro celebration?

Answer 11

A txistu (una palabra Vasca) and a tamboril

Question 12

True or False: It is very common in Latin cultures for all the family to celebrate together, including the extended family

Answer 12

True

Question 13

True or False: Parientes and parents are false cognates. The word for parents in Spanish is padres.

Answer 13

True

Question 14

True or False: Spain is part of the European Union

Answer 14

True

Question 15

What is the capital, and largest city, of Spain?

Answer 15

Madrid

Question 16

Where is Madrid, Spain, located in relation to Spain?

Answer 16

In the center of Spain

Question 17

Besides Madrid, what are other major cities in Spain?

Answer 17

Barcelona, Valencia, and Sevilla.

Question 18

True or False: Some parts of Spain, such as Melilla and Ceuta, are on the continent of Africa

Answer 18

True

Question 19

What islands are apart of Spain?

Answer 19

Spain also has several islands, including the Canary Islands, which are off the west coast of Africa, and the Balearic Islands, which are in the Mediterranean Sea.

Question 20

How many autonomous communities make up Spain?

Answer 20

17

Question 21

True or False: the Spanish autonomous community is similar to the U.S. state

Answer 21

True

Question 22

What factors define and differentiate Spain’s autonomous communities?

Answer 22

Every autonomous community has its own culture apart from the unifying Spanish culture, and they also have their own unique geography and climate.

Question 23

What is Spain’s climate and geography like from region to region?

Answer 23

Spain has a varied geography and climate. Generally, the northern Cantabrian coast is cool and rainy. For this reason, it is known as La costa verde, or the Green Coast, for its lush landscapes. There are several important mountain ranges, including los Picos de Europa—which run through the northern communities of Asturias, Cantabria, and Castilla León—and the Pyrenees, which are on the eastern border of Spain. These mountains are high enough to get snow. The center of Spain is a meseta, or plain, and can have very hot summers and very cold winters. The southern part of Spain tends to be more temperate. There are even deserts in some of the volcanic islands of the Canaries, which have warm weather year round.

Question 24

What is the highest point in Spain?

Answer 24

The highest point in Spain is an active volcano on the Canarian island of Tenerife, called Mount Teide.

Question 25

What is Gallego and in which Spanish autonomous community is it spoken in? How did geography affect the language?

Answer 25

Gallego is a language spoken in the northern autonomous community of Galicia, and it is practically a mix of Portuguese and Spanish. That’s not surprising since Galicia borders Portugal.

Question 26

In which autonomous communities is Catalán spoken?

Answer 26

Catalán is spoken in Cataluña, where Barcelona is, and variations of it are spoken in Valencia and the Balearic islands as well.

Question 27

In which autonomous community is Vasco, or Basque, spoken?

Answer 27

Vasco, or Basque, is spoken in the northern País Vasco.

Question 28

Today, what is the approximate population of Spain?

Answer 28

50 million

Question 29

What is the period from the 16th to the 17th century in Spanish history called?

Answer 29

The Golden Age

Question 30

How can Spanish influence be seen in the Philippines?

Answer 30

The Philippines, which was part of the Spanish empire for more than 300 years, is still primarily Catholic, thanks to the Spanish. Many foods, traditions, and even words have been borrowed from the Spanish.

Question 31

How can Spanish influence be seen in Equatorial Guinea?

Answer 31

Equatorial Guinea, another former colony of Spain, was influenced by Spain in similar ways. Even today, Spanish is one of its official languages.

Question 32

In a Spanish wedding, what is the U.S. equivalent of a “madrina” (godmother)?

Answer 32

The matron of honor; In a Spanish wedding, the madrina is chosen by the bride and is typically a family member rather than a friend. She accompanies the groom as he gets out of his car.

Question 33

True or False: In Spanish weddings, it is uncommon to have bridesmaids or groomsmen.

Answer 33

True

Question 34

In a Spanish wedding, what is the U.S. equivalent of a “padrino” (godfather)?

Answer 34

The best man; In a Spanish wedding, the padrino is chosen by the groom and is typically a family member. He accompanies the bride as she gets out of her car and down the aisle of the Church.

Question 35

In a Spanish wedding, what is the exchange of arras? What does it represent?

Answer 35

In a traditional Spanish wedding, the bride and groom pass each other thirteen coins, or arras, which can be real or symbolic. The coins represent the bride’s dowry and the groom’s pledge to provide for their family. Usually the couple keeps the coins as a memento of their wedding day.

Question 36

In a Spanish wedding, are the wedding rings, or alianzas, placed on the right hand or the left hand?

Answer 36

On the right hand

Question 37

In a Spanish wedding, after the church/wedding ceremony, what do the bride and groom do? Who accompanies them?

Answer 37

They go to sign the marriage license with the padrinos, or godparents, as witnesses.

Question 38

True or False: In Spanish weddings, there aren’t usually speeches given at wedding receptions, like in American weddings; however, there is a lot of merrymaking

Answer 38

True

Question 39

True or False: Unlike weddings in the U.S., in Spain there traditionally isn’t a fancy tiered wedding cake, but there is usually a cake for dessert which is often wheeled out to much fanfare.

Answer 39

True

Question 40

What is a “luna de miel”?

Answer 40

A honeymoon

Question 41

True or False: Equatorial Guinea is a large producer of oil

Answer 41

True

Question 42

What was the original name of Equatorial Guinea?

Answer 42

Spanish Guinea

Question 43

What is the population of Equatorial Guinea in terms of age and number?

Answer 43

It has a small and very young population of fewer than a million people. In fact, almost 41% of the population is under the age of 15.

Question 44

What are the languages spoken in Equatorial Guinea?

Answer 44

Apart from Spanish, French is also an official language, and Portuguese has recently been added as the third official language. Spanish, however, is the language that is used for administrative purposes and in schools.

Question 45

Which two countries border Equatorial Guinea?

Answer 45

Cameroon (to the north) and Gabon (to the east and south)

Question 46

True or False: Equatorial Guinea is made up of the mainland and five islands, two of which are sparsely or completely uninhabited.

Answer 46

True

Question 47

What are the two regions of Equatorial Guinea?

Answer 47

It is divided into two regions: the Insular Region (comprised of the islands of Bioko and Annobon) and the Continental Region (comprised of the mainland plus the islands of Corsico and the smaller islands).

Question 48

What is the capital of Equatorial Guinea? On which island is it located? What can you find there?

Answer 48

The capital city, Malabo, is on the island of Bioko. There, you can still enjoy the colonial and historic buildings like the Palace of the Government.

Question 49

What is the geography like in Equatorial Guinea?

Answer 49

Equatorial Guinea is geographically diverse, from its beaches with volcanic sand to rainforests and mountains. Most of the mainland is tropical jungle, which has unusually tall plants. Of course, the country has an eye to protecting nature, and there are several national parks, like the Monte Alen National Park in the rainforest, where visitors might see elephants, gorillas, and chimpanzees. Due to its location and geography, the climate is tropical and warm for most of the year. There is a wet season and a dry season. Although there is much rainfall during the wet season, the water in the country is not safe to drink.

Question 50

What is the history behind Spanish being the official language spoken in Equatorial Guinea today? Are there any indigenous languages spoken?

Answer 50

Equatorial Guinea was under Spanish rule for 190 years. Portugal originally ceded the Guinean islands to Spain in the second half of the 1700s. During the period of Spanish colonization, Spanish was named the official language and Catholicism was made the official religion. Even today, the great majority of the country is Catholic. However, there are several indigenous groups, such as the Fang, who have their own language and religion.

Question 51

How can Spanish influence be seen in Equatorial Guinea today? Despite this, what is the point of origin of most of the food?

Answer 51

Although the country gained independence from Spain in 1968, Spanish influence is still everywhere, from religious holidays to architecture and even food. Many restaurants in the country serve Spanish food, such as tapas, tortilla española, which is a potato omelet, and paella, which is a rice dish. However, the majority of food has African roots. Even today, there are two cultural centers of Spain, whose goal, among others, is to spread Spanish culture through the arts. And of course, there is the Spanish language. Equatoguinean Spanish is similar to Spanish from Spain, as it uses the vosotros form, though the forms and pronouns are often mixed with ustedes.

Question 52

What is the book “Arde el monte de noche”, meaning “The Mountain Burns at Night,” by Equatoguinean author Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel about?

Answer 52

It is based around his childhood memories in Equatorial Guinea.

Question 53

Who is Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel?

Answer 53

This author is a native Equatoguinean, born in the capital city of Malobo in 1966, though his parents were from another island in Equatorial Guinea, called Annobón. He spent his early childhood years in Annobón, but his family later returned to Malabo. He earned a degree as a nurse. He entered in several literary competitions in Guinea in the 1980s and 90s, winning several awards for his essays, poetry, plays, and short stories. Since then, he has written and published several works, including his novels “El desmayo de Judas” and “Nadie tiene buena fama en este país.”

Question 54

What are some defining characteristics of Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel’s work?

Answer 54

Some defining characteristics of his work are his criticisms of Equatoguinean and African society and politics as well as the economic inequality of his country. He has been a celebrated guest speaker in universities around the world, as well as in international forums.

Question 55

What caused Juan Tomás Ávila Laurel to go on a hunger strike? What did he do later as a form of protest?

Answer 55

His passion for social, political, and economic justice led him to go on a hunger strike in 2011 as a form of protest against President Teodoro Obiang Nguema’s regime, which would coincide with the visit of the president of Spain to the country. Ávila Laurel continued his protest by abandoning his country to live in Spain. Because of his hunger strike, he was very weak when he arrived there.

Question 56

What is the Basque word for “hello”?

Answer 56

Kaixo

Question 57

Where is Basque Country, or País Vasco, located in terms of Spain?

Answer 57

It is located in the North of Spain on the Bay of Biscay.

Question 58

In which autonomous community is San Sebastián located?

Answer 58

Basque Country (País Vasco)

Question 59

What is unique about the signs in País Vasco?

Answer 59

The signs are in both vasco, or Basque, and Spanish. This is because both Vasco (or Basque) and Spanish are widely spoken in the Basque Country.

Question 60

True or False: The origins of Basque are not related at all to Spanish or any other known language. (Has a lot of words with the letters K, X, and Z)

Answer 60

True

Question 61

What are pintxos in the Basque Country, and of which Spanish word are they the variation of? What makes up a pintxo? What is the connection between San Sebastián bars and pintxos?

Answer 61

Pintxos are the Basque version of Spanish tapas, or small bites. Pintxos is the Basque variation of the Spanish word pinchos, which also means small bites. Pintxos are often a small slice of bread with different ingredients on top, such as marinated shrimp or hake fish, which are skewered to the bread with a toothpick, but other small bites can be pintxos too. San Sebastián is well known around the world for its pintxos. Almost every bar in San Sebastián offers pintxos, which is a great way to sample many types of foods. Often a bar specializes in their own pintxo, and there is great competition around the city for the best-tasting and best-looking pintxos.

Question 62

What is “Parte Vieja” in English, in terms of a city?

Answer 62

Old Town

Question 63

True or False: La Avenida de la Libertad (shopping) and Playa de la Concha (beach) are places in San Sebastián

Answer 63

True

Question 64

What is the custom procedure in ordering cold and hot pintxos?

Answer 64

Often in pintxo bars, the cold pintxos are displayed on the bar, and you can help yourself. You usually have to order the hot ones.

Question 65

Remember: With so many pintxo places in San Sebastián, you never stay at the same one all night. It is common to do a ruta de pintxos, where you hop from one place to another to have a drink and a pintxo. That way, you get to try a lot of things. A Spanish tradition on birthdays is that the person whose birthday it is pays for drinks. However, as is la costumbre on a normal night out, people take turns paying a round.

Answer 65

With so many pintxo places in San Sebastián, you never stay at the same one all night. It is common to do a ruta de pintxos, where you hop from one place to another to have a drink and a pintxo. That way, you get to try a lot of things. A Spanish tradition on birthdays is that the person whose birthday it is pays for drinks. However, as is la costumbre on a normal night out, people take turns paying a round.

Question 66

In which autonomous community is Barcelona located?

Answer 66

Cataluña

Question 67

What body of water does Barcelona border?

Answer 67

The Mediterranean

Question 68

What is the history of Barcelona (hint: people who have ruled it)?

Answer 68

Barcelona was founded by the Romans and was later invaded by the Visigoths. Later came the Moors, and then it was conquered by the son of Charlemagne of the Carolingian Empire. Later came the Spanish March, which was the start of the Spanish Reconquest.

Question 69

What is the Barrio Gótico in Barcelona known as in Catalán, the local language of Barcelona?

Answer 69

Barri Gòtic

Question 70

True or false: In Barcelona, many signs are written in both Spanish and Catalán.

Answer 70

True

Question 71

What is the Barrio Gótico, or Barri Gòtic (Catalán), in Barcelona?

Answer 71

The Barri Gòtic is the Gothic Quarter of the city and was the center of old Barcelona. In this mainly pedestrian neighborhood, you can wander around narrow alleys, coming across small bars, cafés, and shops, each unique and charming. The Picasso Museum and the Cathedral are wonderful stops in this area.

Question 72

What were Antoni Gaudí’s contributions to Barcelona?

Answer 72

Antoni Gaudí was a famed architect who created many architectural works in Barcelona from the 1800s and early 1900s. He is known for his whimsical Modernist style, which is colorful, and it imitates forms found in nature. Some of his most famous buildings are la Casa Battló, with its balconies that look like a skull and bones, as well as la Sagrada Familia, a large cathedral, which is still under construction today.

Question 73

What is Las Ramblas in Barcelona?

Answer 73

Las Ramblas is an avenue that runs through the center of the city, right toward the sea. Attractions at Las Ramblas include watching street performers, stopping to have a coffee in one of the many outdoor cafés, or browsing the shops and vendor stalls that sell everything from fresh flowers to caged birds.

Question 74

What is El Mercado de la Boquería, or el Mercat de la Boquería in Catalán, in Barcelona?

Answer 74

El Mercat de la Boquería, as it is called in Catalán, or el Mercado de la Boquería is a giant fresh food market located just off Las Ramblas. It has fresh produce, meat, and seafood coming from all over the world, but particularly from the local area and from other parts of Spain.