New Year in Spain  

Spanish for Kids Hispanic Holidays


Año Nuevo


la medianoche - midnight


el desfile - parade


el confeti - confetti


los fuegos artificiales - fireworks

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Celebrating the New Year in Spain

Spanish New Year's Eve celebrations
usually begin with a family dinner,
traditionally including shrimp and
lamb or capon. Spanish tradition
says that wearing new, red underwear
on New Year's Eve brings good luck.
The actual countdown is primarily
followed from the clock on top
of the Casa de Correos building
in Puerta del Sol square in Madrid.

It is traditional to eat twelve grapes,
one on each chime of the clock.
After the family dinner and the grapes,
many young people attend New Year
parties. Early next morning,
party attendees usually gather to
have the traditional winter
breakfast of chocolate con
churros (hot chocolate and fried pastry).


Make Your Own Churros
It is a Spanish custom to have Churros with chocolate for breakfast on the morning of the New Year. But you don't have to be in Madrid to enjoy this delicious tradition. Here is a simple do-it-yourself recipe:

Ingredients:

  • Oil
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup margarine or butter
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

    Prepare to fry the churros by heating oil in a pan.

    To make churro dough, heat water, margarine and salt to rolling boil in 3-quart saucepan; stir in flour. Stir vigorously over low heat until mixture forms a ball, about 1 minute; remove from heat. Beat eggs all at once; continue beating until smooth and then add to saucepan while stirring mixture.

    Spoon mixture into cake decorators' tube with large star tip. Squeeze 4-inch strips of dough into hot oil. Fry 3 or 4 strips at a time until golden brown, turning once, about 2 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels. Roll churros in sugar.

    Chocolate for Churro Dunking

  • 4 ounces dark chocolate
  • 2 cups milk
  • 3 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch

    Place the chocolate and half the milk in a pan and heat, stirring, until the chocolate has melted. Dissolve the cornstarch in the remaining milk and whisk into the chocolate with the sugar. Cook on low heat, whisking constantly, until the chocolate is thickened, about five minutes. Add extra cornstarch if it doesn't start to thicken after 5 minutes. Remove and whisk smooth. Pour and server in cups or bowls for dipping churros.

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