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Federico García Lorca – Un Tesoro Escondido
Published September 20, 2011 | 
Por Robert Smith (músico y Estudiante de español)
De vez en cuando por este viaje de aprender el idioma español, se pueden encontrar cosas fabulosas sobre la cultura de la vida hispánica, la música, la comida o la historia a lo largo los siglos, lo cual encuentro muy interesante.
Recientemente me han informado de la biografía y obras de uno de los mejores poetas españoles de todos los tiempos, el gran Federico García Lorca y en este caso estoy muy contento de contar al mundo sobre este gigante poeta/escritor del siglo XX.
Rara vez he sentido tanta pasión por las páginas de un libro, aunque no entiendo todas las palabras, sin duda la pasión llena el aire. Su obra te hace sentir que este autor escribía con todo el alma.
Lorca nació en Andalucía, una región que le influenció enormemente en su vida. Andalucía es un lugar famoso por el flamenco, que según el libro que he leído es la música de los gitanos los cuales inspiraron a Lorca y decidió gran parte de su obra y también a los pobres y las minorías de su tiempo de España y al extranjero.
En mi opinión estaba muy avanzado para su época, a causa de su sexualidad y creencia política, era una época muy peligrosa para él. No obstante trabajaba con éxitos enormes en España y Los Estados Unidos donde, la simpatía de Lorca hacia la gentes minoritarias como las minorías negras, ayudaron a ganarse el respeto de sus contemporáneos como Pedro Salinas y Juan Ramón Jiménez, muy exitosos en sus propias vidas.
Aunque no proclamaba a los cuatro vientos sobre que era un autor comprometido, sus creencias fueron suficientes para causar su sentencia de muerte. El régimen consideraba a Lorca un enemigo y trágicamente, murió asesinado en Agosto de 1936.
El poeta sigue inspirando a los románticos en todo el mundo.
La ratita presumida
Published February 26, 2011 | The Spanish Story for kids “la ratita presumida” (The Conceited Little Rat) is perhaps one of the most popular children Stories within the Spanish culture, and it is certainly my favourite. There are many versions of this story, but the format is continual. In the main part of the adventure, a little rat cleaning her house and finds a coin unexpectedly. Then little rat wonders on what she should expend this money, and mentions a cycle of items (which vary depending on the person telling the tale) that she systematically discards with umpteen reasons.
For example: would I buy a bag of sweeties? No because that will ruin my teeth.
She finally opts for a ribbon to put in her tail to look prettier.
In the second section of the tale, lots of animal candidates come to ask the little rat to marry them, attracted by her enhanced beauty. In order to choose her candidate she ask each of them what they do at night. Each animal replays with their characteristic sound, the duck quacks, the dog barks etc. the little rat doesn’t accept any of them claiming that they are too noisy and she will be afraid.
Finally a little mouse comes and he replies: “I will sleep and be quiet “, to which the little rat agrees and they marry and live happily ever after.
This lovely Spanish Story has an education value too It teaches little children about the animals and their different sounds. Finally, little kids can learn about the sense of danger mentioning, in the first part of this tell, items that can be harmful.
Click on the video to see a lovely version of the tale. If you have any comments or you wish to write your own version of this Spanish tale please post it on comments.
Reyes Magos
Published January 5, 2011 | During Christmas Spain has a beautiful festivity finally which is probably as important as Christmas day. Los Reyes magos (in English they are known as three Wise Men, Three Kings, or Kings from the East) is a day celebrated by all the Spaniards on the 6th of January as remembrance of the 3 wise men (represented on the new testament of the bible) after the birth of Jesus, would come from foreign countries to pay homage and give him symbolic gifts of great wealth: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Although in Spain and other Spanish countries are called as Reyes Magos (Magic kings) The Gospel only speaks of magicians, nowhere indicates that they were kings. This belief appeared several centuries later and has remained in the folk tradition. Nether they names are mention in the gospel.
Tres Reyes Magos (Three Kings): Although the Bible says that there were three gifts given by the “wise men” to baby Jesus, the first specific reference to the number of Kings gives Origen, a prominent ecclesiastical writer in the fourth century. In the fith century, Pope Leo I the Great established officially 3 as the number of Wise man for all Christendom. In mid-sixth century, the church of St. Apollinaris Nuovo in Ravenna (Italy) were assigned the names ”Melchor, Gaspar ”and “ Belshazzar ”.According to legend, their remains were found in the Cathedral of Cologne, Germany, where the called Shrine of the Three Kings.
In Spain, compared with the recent introduction of Santa Claus in the Christmas custom due to the influence of American culture and foreign countries, it is traditional for Christmas gifts to children they may bring the Kings the night of 5 to 6 January. Before, the children must send a letter to the king asking for the presents they want and indicate the credit for those who deserve to receive gifts. On the night of January 5th children must leave their shoes in the house somewhere. The next day the gifts are there, or in the case of being bad, coal instead. During the evening of the 5th towns all over Spain celebrate La cabalgata de Reyes, a big parade where the kings arrive on floats to the towns throughing sweets and entertaining children. On the 6th children open their presents an there is traditional family meal that ends with a traditional cake call Roscon de Reyes.
Valladolid [Video]
Published June 20, 2010 |
If you wish to se picture of Valladolid have a look at the next slid show
As the saying goes – Refranes
Published April 25, 2010 | 
El Refranero español (Spanish proverb) is one of the most complete compendium of philosophy and lore that are known in the world. The nearly one hundred thousand proverbs that occur in the Castilian language give rise to an extraordinary material that represents one of the great values given essentially by the people, the Spanish always have them in mind in our daily lives because they never miss one or more proverbs to illustrate our discussion, any time of day, any angle of our existence. The proverb is a constituent part of the Spanish daily conversation. Our classic literature, from “El libro de buen amor,” from the fourteenth century, is a magnificent example of Spanish literature tradition. Since then, “el Refrán” has been with us forever, offering its accuracy, its wit, its timing, it’s wonderful brevity and power of illustration.
Here are my top ten favourites
! A buenas horas, mangas verdes!
Meaning: When a decision or act is made too late and there is not coming back.
A todo cerdo le llega su San Martín
Meaning: Related to the death of an individual. Basically we will day one day.
Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente.
Meaning: you don’t feel something that you don’t see or you ignore
En casa del herrero, cuchillo de palo
Meaning: Where something is missing on a place that it shouldn’t be
La curiosidad, mató al gato
Meaning: the same that the English saying, Curiosity killed the cat
No por mucho madrugar, amanece más temprano.
Meaning: We can not anticipate future events.
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.Show romanization
Meaning: the wisdom of moderation in our comments.
Cuando las barbas del vecino veas pelar, pon las tuyas a remojar.
Meaning: You have to think that what happens to others also could happen to oneself.
No todo el campo es oregano
Meaning: We use this to alert some one of over confidence.
Nunca llueve a gusto de todos.
Meaning: There are always different opinions and interests among different people.
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