Oct. 9, 2008 - Beautiful..... or weird?
This is my version of huevos divorciados (divorced eggs). It may look a little strange at first, but trust me, ¡Sabe bien rico! - It tastes great!
How to prepare? ¡Es fácil! It's easy! Make a bed of rice and refried beans on your plate. Top with two fried eggs. Cover one egg with red salsa, and one with green salsa - the heat level is up to you. Sprinkle with crumbled cheese. I used cotija añejo, but you can use queso fresco or even Parmesan. Top with fresh, chopped cilantro.
¡Buen provecho! Enjoy your meal!
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Sep. 25, 2008 - A brief history of Spain and its language
In 1,000 BC the Phoenicians (from modern-day Syria) founded the city of Tarsis in Spain. It is mentioned in the Bible in Kings I and in Ezechiel. Some believe that the apostle Paul is from this city.
In aprox. 500 BC the Carthaginians entered Spain and founded Cartagena. It was here that Hanibal was born, and from here that he led the Carthaginians against Rome.
The Romans arrived in Spain in 201 BC Although the other invaders left their mark upon the Spanish language, Latin made the greatest contribution. Only the Basque region was not changed by Latin, and remains little changed from its ancient form to this day.
The Basque language has contributed only a few words to Spanish, such as izquierda (left).
Spanish is full of Latin words that changed slightly in spelling and pronunciation over the years. Examples are pax (peace) -> paz, lux (light)-> luz, fumus (smoke) -> humo, facere (to do) -> hacer, folia (leaf) -> hoja, bono (good) -> bueno.
In 409 AD invasions by Germanic peoples began. First to arrive were the Vandals, and then later the Visigoths. Words that came to Spanish from these groups include guerra (war), robar (to rob), riqueza (riches), bandido (thief), ganar (to win), and proper names like, Fernando, Rodrigo, Federico, and Alvaro. They named a southern area of Spain “Vandalous”.
In 711 the Moors (an Arab/Berber people) invaded Spain. The changed the southern state from “Vandalous” to Al Andalus (now called Andalucia), and this area was their great seat of power in Spain for over 700 years. In Moorish Spain Christians, Muslims, and a large Jewish population peacefully coexisted. The Moors built Universities that still exist to this day, and Moorish Spain experienced a golden age of science, poetry, engineering, medicine, and trade throughout the Mediterranean. While the rest of Europe experienced the Dark Ages, Spain had a high standard of living and of education.
Arabic words that came to Spanish include azul (blue), jazmín (jasmine), cero (zero), cifrar (to cipher or figure), azafrán (saffron), and arróz (rice). Many words in modern Spanish retain the Arabic al- prefix, meaning “the”. They include álgebra (algebra), algodón (cotton), alfombra (rug), almanaque (almanac), alfiler (pin), and almorzar (to eat lunch). Arab place names include Guadalajara, Gibraltar, Sevilla, and Guadalquivir. A Roman town named Caesar-Agusta became Zaragoza.
Spanish from the 1200s-1400s bears a great resemblance to modern Spanish. Writings from this era can be read and enjoyed by Spanish speakers today. El Cantar del Mio Cid, for example, was written in 1350, and considered the beginning of Spanish language literature. However, in English, we require a translation of The Canterbury Tales, written in 1400.
The reconquest of Spain from the Moors lasted centuries, and ended in Granada in 1492. Two great provinces, Castile and Léon, joined their power with the marriage of Ferdinand and Isabella, who financed Columbus’ trip across the Atlantic. Another golden age began for Spain as they conquered vast territories, spreading their language and culture throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Spain did not experience a Renaissance like other European nations, because Renaissance means “rebirth” or “reawakening” and refers to a great cultural boom after the Middle Ages. Spain really went from one golden age to another, and enjoyed great riches, a high standard of education, and great international power.
Over the years Spain picked up words from Renaissance Italian, and from Napoleonic invaders in the 1700s. Spanish also adopted words from the “New World” such as chocolate and batata (potato).
In modern times, Spanish has experienced the influence of English in such words as email, jeans, and Coca-cola. With some 20 nations in which Spanish is the primary language, sometimes a new word is created, and each country has a different version of the word. An example is the word tennis shoes, which includes: zapatos tenis, zapatos de lona, and zapatos deportivos, and numerous other terms.
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Sep. 15, 2008 - Traveler IQ Challenge
I find the Traveler IQ game addictive! I have made it to level 11 on the World game, but can't get past 10 on the Latin America quiz. Here, you give it a try:
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Sep. 10, 2008 - I pledge allegiance to the flag....
Juro fielidad a la bandera
de los Estados Unidos de América,
y a la república que representa,
una nación bajo Dios,
indivisible con libertad
y justicia para todos
Here's some help! This is an incredibly cute video of a 6 year old trying to say the pledge first in English and then in Spanish:
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Sep. 5, 2008 - Las Mañanitas
Estas son las mañanitas que cantaba el Rey David,
Hoy por ser el día de tu santo, te las cantamos a ti.
Despierta mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amanecío,
Ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metío.
This is the morning song that King David sang,
Because it's your saint's day, we're singing it for you.
Wake up my dear, wake up, look it is already dawn,
The birds are already singing and the moon has set.
A couple of notes: traditionally some celebrated a child's saint's day instead of their actual birthday, hence the reference to the saint's day. This song was originally a morning serenade, but is now sung right before blowing out the candles on the cake.
Let's put these words to music and hear how they sound:
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Apr. 10, 2008 - I know my Redeemer Lives/Yo sé que vive mi Redentor - Nicole C. Mullen
I was just in the mood to hear this song, so I looked it up on youtube. Little did I know she starts it out be singing in Spanish! Ok, this puppy is going on my Amazon Wish List.... Thank you Nicole for sharing your gift with the world.
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Mar. 25, 2008 - The Chilean National Anthem
In this video, a young girl sings the Chilean National Anthem at a New Year's celebration. There is only one small technical problem: Chile is one of the few nations that does not have an official anthem. This song, however, is regarded by most chilenos to be their anthem.
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Mar. 19, 2008 - Cristo Ha Resucitado - Christ has Risen
¡Feliz Pascua de la Resurrección! Happy Easter! The following is a hymn originally written by Charles Wesley. It also enjoys popularity in its Spanish translation, and will be sung all across the Spanish speaking world this Domingo de Pascua/Easter Sunday. It is known in Spanish as Cristo Ha Resucitado - Christ has Risen.
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Mar. 15, 2008 - The Mexican National Anthem
Here is the National Anthem of Mexico. It truly reflects the pride so many Mexicans have in their nation and history. The lyrics are written in Spanish and English so that you can follow along.
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Mar. 6, 2008 - The Spanish National Anthem
Here is the lovely and dignified National Anthem (Himno) of Spain. Want to sing along? Oops, sorry, there are no words! Literally, they can't agree on what they want it to say, so all efforts to put words to this anthem have been ditched.
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Feb. 14, 2008 - ¡Feliz día de San Valentín!
So... how do you say those three wonderful words in Spanish - "I love you" ?
What about other terms of endearment? This list should get you started...
- amado/a, cariño/a, querido/a - sweetheart, beloved
- mi amor - my love (common endearment between parents and children)
- amor - pure love, romantic love
- caridad - love and charity, commonly the form used in the New Testament.
- amistad - friendship
- amor mío - my love (can also be used between parents and children)
- te quiero - I love you, appropriate between friends, family, and in romantic relationships.
- te amo - another way to say I love you, but generally in a more romantic sense. It is less commonly used.
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Dec. 24, 2007 - ¡Feliz Navidad!
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Dec. 15, 2007 - Christmas Vocabulary
Time to put a pinch of nutmeg in your ponche de huevo (eggnog) and practice some Christmas vocabulary!
- Merry Christmas! - ¡Feliz Navidad!
- The Christmas spirit - El espiritu navideño
- Nativity scene - Un belén
- Happy New Year! - ¡Prospero Año Nuevo!
- Season's Greetings - ¡Felices fiestas!
- Christmas decorations - Adornos de Navidad
- Christmas Eve - La Nochebuena
- Mistletoe - el muérdago
- Holly - el acebo
- Midnight Mass - el misa del gallo
- Christmas tree - árbol de Navidad (but don't expect to see many of these in Spain or Latin America!)
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Dec. 14, 2007 - La Virgen lava pañales - Mary is washing swaddling clothes
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Dec. 14, 2007 - The burro from Bethleham
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Dec. 14, 2007 - The Church Bells of Bethleham
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Dec. 14, 2007 - Los Peces en el Rio - A beautiful Spanish Christmas song to get you in the mood for La Navidad!
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Nov. 22, 2007 - ¡Féliz día de acción de gracias!
You may be wondering how Thanksgiving is celebrated in the Spanish speaking world. Actually, for the most part, it is not celebrated. An exception is the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Hispanics in the United States have also embraced the tradition, because what is better than a day off with great food and family togetherness? That translates to any language.
Translating Thanksgiving terminology is a little more problematic. Yes, the word for cranberry is el arándano, but you may be hard pressed to find a person in Central or South America who even knows what a cranberry is!
So I offer the following list of Thanksgiving vocabulary, and ask you to take it with a grain of salt, a ladle full of gravy, or a dollop of dulce de leche (whichever you prefer):
- el pavo - the turkey
- la salsa de arándanos - cranberry sauce
- la cazuela - casserole
- el pastel/la tarta de calabaza - pumpkin pie
- el noviembre - November
- la cena - dinner
- comer - to eat
- gluglú gluglú - gobble gobble (the turkey sound)
- el ñame - yam
- el otoño - autumn
- las sobras - leftovers
- los parientes - relatives
- el maíz - corn
- el puré de patatas - mashed potatoes
- la salsa de carne - gravy
- las verduras - vegetables
- el relleno - stuffing
Here is a lovely lesson idea that will work today or any day of the year - say what you are thankful for! Here is how to say "I am thankful for......."
- boys say: Estoy agradecido por __________
- girls say: Estoy agradecida por __________
I'll tell you what I'm agradecida por! Family, food, and sleeping in this week!
No field trip tomorrow due to the holiday. Stay home and eat las sobras!
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Oct. 8, 2007 - ¡Feliz Día de Descubrimiento!
Today the Western hemisphere celebrates the arrival of Christopher Columbus on western soil. In the minds of Spanish speakers, it is considered the joining of two worlds: both the great civilizations that were already here, and the great civilizations that came across the sea. It was this mix that have made them what they are today. Columbus's name in Spanish is Cristobol Colón.
For those who are history buffs, there is a growing belief that Columbus was a Spanish Jew, and that the claim of being Italian was a ruse to hide his true faith. Here is an article explaining this theory. We may never know... at least on this side of heaven!
Some of the most beautiful celebrations of Colombus Day occur in the Dominican Republic, where Colombus landed after his first long voyage across the Atlantic. He named the island Hispanola, and is now buried there at El Faro a Colón. His brother Bartolomé Colón founded Santo Domingo, and lived in a palace known as El Alcazar de Colón. (Click "Visita Virtual" for a tour, and work your way down the links under that heading. There is a link for viewing the site in English, however the English version is not yet available.) These two historic locations are now prime sites for Columbus Day celebrations, however it is celebrated across the Americas.
Here are numerous exterior pictures of El Alcazar de Colón.
Columbus Day is also known is Spanish as Día de La Raza, and Día de Descubrimiento de dos mundos, both of which refer to the joining of two hemispheres to create a new culture.
