I can read a party invitation and the messages about it and understand who brings what, when everything starts, and how people reply to a wish.
What the messages are about
Three hallmarks of a Spanish party
Irene invites Álvaro to her birthday party, and he replies. The messages show three Spanish party customs.
First: age is given with the verb cumplir — cumplo treinta años, literally “I complete thirty years” (English says “I'm turning thirty”), and the party itself is el cumpleaños.
Second: besides birthdays, Spain celebrates el santo — the feast day of the saint a person is named after; on that day people also say ¡Felicidades!
Third: la sobremesa — talking at the table after the meal, while the dishes are still there; getting up right after dessert is considered rude.
Read it twice: first the whole text, then for the details — who brings what, when the party starts, and how people reply to a wish.
Lesson notes
Three hallmarks of a Spanish party
Irene invites Álvaro to her birthday party, and he replies. The messages show three Spanish party customs.
First: age is given with the verb cumplir — cumplo treinta años, literally “I complete thirty years” (English says “I'm turning thirty”), and the party itself is el cumpleaños.
Second: besides birthdays, Spain celebrates el santo — the feast day of the saint a person is named after; on that day people also say ¡Felicidades!
Third: la sobremesa — talking at the table after the meal, while the dishes are still there; getting up right after dessert is considered rude.
Read it twice: first the whole text, then for the details — who brings what, when the party starts, and how people reply to a wish.