Fiestas en España: verbos que van juntos

Póster léxico: colocaciones típicas de verbos con fiestas españolas.
DannisDannis
2 min reading time
(Illustration)

Holiday collocations (A2): verb + phrase. In Spain there are fixed expressions (set phrases). Use them like this.

montar el belén = prepare the Nativity scene (figures of Mary, Joseph, etc.). In December, many families "montan el belén" at home. In English: "set up the Nativity scene."

poner el árbol (de Navidad) = put up the Christmas tree and decorate it. E.g.: En mi casa ponemos el árbol el 8 de diciembre. In English: "put up the Christmas tree."

cantar villancicos = sing Christmas carols. E.g.: Los niños cantan villancicos en la plaza. In English: "sing Christmas carols."

comer las uvas (en Nochevieja) = 12 grapes at midnight, one for each chime of the clock. E.g.: En España comemos las uvas a las 00:00. Literally: "eat the grapes."

brindar con cava = make a toast with cava (sparkling wine). E.g.: Brindamos con cava por el Año Nuevo. Literally: "toast with cava."

tirar petardos = set off firecrackers at festivals (San Juan, Fallas). Careful: it’s noisy and dangerous. Literally: "set off firecrackers."

ver la Cabalgata de Reyes = watch the parade on January 5. E.g.: Los niños ven la cabalgata y recogen caramelos. In English: "watch the Three Kings Parade."

Useful tip: brindar con + drink (cava), brindar por + reason (el Año Nuevo, la salud). Think of con = "with what", por = "what for / for what reason".

Comprehension check:

En Nochevieja, los españoles ____ las uvas a medianoche.
comen
beben
montan
In Spain people say "comer las uvas" — to eat grapes with the 12 chimes of the clock. The verb is comer.
Think about the "12 uvas" tradition.
Elige la opción correcta: En mi familia ______ cava a medianoche.
brindamos con
brindamos por
tiramos
Correct: brindar con + drink (con cava). "Brindar por" is used for the reason: por la salud, por el Año Nuevo.
Remember the rule: con = with what, por = what for / for what reason.
Completa: En casa ______ el belén en diciembre.
montamos
bebemos
comemos
Fixed collocation: montar el belén — to set up the Nativity scene. You need the verb montar here.
Compare with the slide about belén.

Discover next:

Join Action Section
Do you like it? Want more?
Free & quick registration, no subscriptions!
🤗
For expats and alike – unlike any other language app you've tried!
🎮
Learn by scrolling and playing!
💪
Real grammar and idioms to sound like locals!
🧠
Endless FYP feed for language learning
🧠
Endless FYP feed for language learning

Related articles

Materials on related topics will help expand your understanding of the topics: