New Year’s Eve is the sweetest moment of the year for those who love making lists and putting things into perspective. Putting your objectives down on paper will help you stick to them and make your resolutions happen in 2020. However, sometimes it’s hard to decide what’s next on the list. Let us help you!

In this blog post, you’ll learn which are the most popular New Year’s Resolutions for 2020 and what you can do to follow through with them. Keep on reading in English or click here to switch to the Spanish version of the article!

What does the data say?

The following chart by Ipsos details the most popular New Year’s Resolutions among Americans. Although adopting healthy habits tops the 2020 resolutions list, data shows that some classics are still there, e.g., loosing weight and learning a new skill.

This survey presents an interesting fact. Only 38 percent of Americans said they would go for at least one resolution. However, this percentage is way higher among Hispanics, as 56 percent of them plan to accomplish their goals in 2020. Vivan los latinos!

Let us go through each of these resolutions and help you craft an action plan for 2020!

1. Manage Finances Better

Everyone likes to be in good financial shape. To improve your finances, there’s nothing like planning ahead. First of all, you need to have a good understanding of the money you earn and the money you spend. You can keep track of your income and your expenses using an app. Then, create a realistic budget and stick to it by removing unnecessary expenses. This way, you’ll save some money and build an emergy fund that will help you feel relieved.

2. Eat Healthier

If this is among your New Year’s Resolutions, we have good news! Have you ever heard about the Mediterranean Diet? Apart from being delicious, eating as the Spanish, Italian, and Greeks do has many benefits for your health. The Mediterranean Diet has been proved to lower cardiovascular disease risk, reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and increase longevity, among other things. Why don’t you give it a try?

3. Be More Active & Losing Weight

Cold weather is no excuse! There are many things you can do during the winter to stay fit and lose weight, and winter sports are one of the best ways to break the ice, quite literally, and start the new year full of energy. If you’re up to do some travelling, here’s a list with the top ski resorts in Spain. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

4. Improve Mental Well-being & Social Connections

You need to be introspective and accept your own emotions to be happy. No mental-wellness guide will deny this. In the social aspect, getting surrounded by people who share the same interests as you will definitely help as well. Now, they key question is, how do I do that? If you are a language lover, like us, you can travel and meet people from different cultures who will change your perspective. If you can’t afford travelling at the moment, you can attend events or simply smile at your neighbor! You never know how interesting people you see every day can be.

5. Learn a New Skill

Learning a new skill is not only good for your resume, it is also good for your brain and your well-being! Not to mention that you automatically become a more interesting person. In 2020, our golden suggestion is for you to learn a new language. Choose one whose sound and associated culture please you. If you’re not sure which language you want to study, here are several reasons why you should go for Spanish!

6. Be More Eco-Friendly

The Globate Climate and Health Summit 2019 in Madrid changed many people’s minds about climate change. Although we still have a lot to work on, being aware of the problems Earth is facing is the first step to change. There are a lot of small sustainable actions at your fingertips that can help you fight the climate change, such as using public transportation, saving energy and implementing the 3 “Rs”: reduce, reuse and recycle. Our planet will thank you!

We hope you found this post useful. When the clock strikes twelve tonight, you’ll be ready to begin a New Year full of challenging, exciting goals!

At this time of the year, you have probably already heard about the most iconic New Year’s Eve tradition in Spain: eating twelve grapes at midnight. A couple of minutes before the clock strikes twelve on December 31, you’ll find 46 million Spaniards staring at the TV. That night, all broadcasters in the country show the same scene: Puerta del Sol square, in Madrid. And as the bell strikes, they eat their twelve grapes one by one.

Everything has to run smooth as a Swiss watch (quite literally), because any failure or delay in the procedure may ruin the whole ceremony. For this reason, the master watchmakers in charge of the clock at Puerta del Sol test the system 24 hours in advance. This rehearsal before the moment of truth is called preuvas (pre-grapes). Want to know how you can join the pre-celebration? Keep on reading or switch to the Spanish version of this post.

A Bit of History

At the beginning, preuvas was nothing but a technical run-through. Did you know that Madrid’s Post Office’s clock is almost 186 years old? That being the case, it is not surprising that technicians feel more confident testing its gears before running any event.

However, at some point people from all over the country started joining in and rehearsing New Year’s Eve ritual. The only difference was that, instead of grapes, they used to have twelve candies. Why? Well, simply because grapes are supposed to be bad luck if eaten before New Year.

Over time, the number of attendees increased and now around 25000 people gather each year at Puerta del Sol to rehearse for New Year’s Eve.

Where and When

Puerta del Sol is in downtown Madrid, close to the Royal Palace, the Parliament and the Plaza Mayor. Two of its most iconic symbols are the Tío Pepe advertisement and the Bear and the Madroño Tree statue.

Normally, you can get to Puerta del Sol by train, metro, and bus. But watch out! On December 30 and December 31, there are access restrictions due to the number of people that visit the square. That’s why we recommend you to step down at any nearby station and simply walk there.

Regarding the time of the ceremony, we are glad to tell you that you have two chances to attend preuvas within the same day! The first rehearsal takes place at midday, and the second one at midnight, December 30. But let’s be honest: most people prefer joining the latter.

Please note that in order to attend any of the two, you’ll need to be in the area at least two hours in advance, as the venue quickly becomes crowded and security guards cordon off the whole area.

This Is What You’ll See

This might be your first time rehearsing for Nochevieja, so let’s go over what you have to do. The first thing you will see is a golden globe descending from the top of the clock 35 seconds before the bells start striking. After that, you’ll hear four bell tolls. They are the so-called cuartos. But don’t go that fast! You don’t need to do anything yet.

After the four strikes are complete, it’s your time to start eating. By the end of the twelve strikes, you should have eaten all your grapes or candies.

This is all you need to know to successfully attend preuvas. We encourage you to visit Spain’s capital city on December 30 and join this fun activity while you learn Spanish at don Quijote!

“For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas.” – Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

THAT time of the year is right behind the corner and all of us, children and adults, can’t wait to celebrate the joy of these days with our beloved ones. Yes, we are talking about Christmas time, a time of giving. And if there is one giving character, that’s the one we are going to talk about in this post. Keep on reading in Spanish if you prefer.

Santa Claus, Papá Noel, Saint Nicholas, Sinterklaas… There are few people with so many names and faces such as Santa. This character is not as popular in other parts of the world as it is America. In some cultures, it has a different name, and in some others, it doesn’t even exist. Not to mention that in some countries there are other magical beings (like the Three Wise Men) who deliver all children’s presents at this time of the year.

Accompany us in our particular Christmas Carol and find out the many faces of Santa around the Spanish-speaking world!

Santa Claus in Spain and Latin America

In Spain, the most popular name for this lovely old man is Papá Noel. Papá means ‘daddy’, while the word Noel is derived from the French Noël, which stands for ‘Christmas’. Father Christmas is a popular nickname for this character in countries such as the UK, France (Pére Noël) or Italy (Babbo Natale).

Although Santa is growing popularity among Spaniards due to globalization and advertising, for many people in Spain and Latin America he is just the leading character of many Hollywood movies. The tradition of leaving presents under the Christmas tree belongs actually to The Three Wise Men – three Kings coming all the way from the Orient with their camels and gifts (or charcoal, if one has not behaved properly throughout the year).

Other Holiday Characters

Only within the Spanish territory, there are five more characters fulfilling Santa’s role: delivering presents to all good boys and girls around the country. And in Latin America you can find at least two more. Learn more about them:

1. Olentzero

This coalman comes out of the forest where he lives only once a year to bring presents to all children in the Basque Country. Initially, he used to announce the arrival of baby Jesus, but with time he ended up becoming the Santa’s counterpart in this Spanish region.

2. Tió de Nadal

Nope, we are not talking about Rafael Nadal, the popular tennis player. Tió de Nadal is a human-shaped log with a smiley face and a red hat coming from the Catalan mythology. This funny character is fed nuts and covered with a blanket for several days until December 24. Then, it comes the miracle: kids look under the blanket to find out he has pooped out their presents.

3. El Esteru

In Cantabria (Northern Spain), the presents that kids find under their Christmas tree are not necessarily delivered by The Three Wise Men, as in most households in the country. It is El Esteru, a woodcutter, who brings happiness to the little ones on January 6.

4. Apalpador

You might know the region of Galicia in Spain for its Celtic roots and its own different language. Apart from that, Galicia also has its own kind of Santa, called Apalpador. He is a coalman (as well as the Olentzero) who comes down from the mountains on Christmas Eve and New Year’s to touch children’s belly while they sleep and checks if they’ve eaten well throughout the year. If so, he gives them sweets and presents.

5. L’Anguleru

This fledgling character was created in 2008 to foster the celebration of a Christmas that’s closer to the unique traditions of Asturias. L’Anguleru is a Fisherman who goes fishing on December 24, then sells what he has caught and uses the money to buy children gifts.

6. Colacho

Colacho is short for Nicolacho, a reference to Saint Nicholas. At the end of the day, this is just another name they use in Costa Rica for good old Santa, with his red suit and his reindeers carrying the sleight. 

7. Viejito Pascuero

In many Spanish-speaking countries, the translation for Christmas time is Navidad. However, in Chile they call this time of the year Pascua. Viejito Pascuero (literally old Christmas guy) is one of the names Chileans know Santa for, along with Papá Noel.

Now that you know the many faces of Santa Claus all around the world, we encourage to travel to any of these countries and get presents from a different Santa this year. With the Winter Break program offered in don Quijote schools, it will be easy to live a full immersion into the Spanish and Latin Christmas traditions.

"But what does “purity of the Spanish language” even means? Castilian is an evolved Latin which adopted new elements: Iberic, Visigothic, Arab, Greek, French, Italian, English and even from pre-Columbian America. How can you talk about purity of Castilian? When did you decide that from now Castilian is set on stone and all new contribution are noxious impurities? This so-called purity is the last example of some sort of protectionism, linguistic chauvinism, limited, petty, and like any chauvinism it only impoverishes us."

Rosenblat, A. (1971: 12) Nuestra lengua en ambos mundos. Barcelona: Salvat y Alianza.

Languages ​​are living and changing entities that flow and adapt to the social and cultural needs of their speakers. It is often said that, when a language stops evolving, it also stops being spoken, and its use tends to disappear. Our language is kept alive and ever-changing in "ambos mundos” (both words), worlds with cultural differences that shine through the fascinating lexical variants of the Spanish language.

We have already talked about the presence of Spanish all over the world (spoken in 21 countries), not only in Latin America, but also in remote places like the Philippines or Equatorial Guinea. And, although it sounds topical, the Spanish language is very rich in terms of vocabulary. But not all the richness of our culture is reduced to lexical issues, since the foods that compose the great gastronomic variety of Spanish-speaking countries are also delicious. Today, at don Quijote's blog, we want to show you some examples of foods that receive different names according to the Spanish-speaking country we are in. So, when you visit any of them, you will know how to order your favorite foods.

Keep reading this post or click here to switch to the Spanish version.

1. Aguacate (avocado)

This rich and nutritious fruit has its origin in Mexico, and maintains the same name also in Spain, Guatemala, El Salvador and Colombia. However, in Bolivia and Chile this delicious food is known as "palta", while its name is "cura" or "avocado" in Venezuela and "pagua" in Cuba.

2. Dulce de leche (a type of sweet candy similar to fudge candy)

This is the name that this delicious candy receives in Uruguay and also in Argentina, where its part of their traditional  and, although it is not a typical food in Spain, it is increasingly common to find it thanks to the thousands of Argentines who live in this country. In Colombia and Panama, they call it “arequipe”, and "cajeta” in Cuba and Mexico.

3. Fresa (strawberry)

This is the name that this sweet and nutritious fruit receives in Spain and most Latin American countries. But be careful, because in Mexico or Costa Rica, "fresa" is also used to refer pejoratively to someone who has a good social or economic position. In Chile, Argentina and Uruguay it is known by the name “frutilla”.

4. Habas (beans)

To begin with, we must distinguish between the different types of beans and pods we have. On the one hand, we find what in Spain it’s called “alubias” or “judías” (beans), which can be red (“alubias pintas”) or white (“alubias blancas” or “judías blancas”). These, in Mexico and Central America, are known as “frijoles” (although these are black), while in the Dominican Republic are called “habichuelas” and “caraotas” in Venezuela. On the other, the green vegetable pods (“green beans”) are called "judías verdes” in Spain and Colombia, “chauchas” in Argentina and “vainitas” in Perú.

5. Jugo (juice)

Although in Spain it is usually called "zumo", the word "jugo" can be used as a synonym, although it is more common to use it for liquids obtained after cooking stews. The word "jugo" is used to refer to the squeezed fruits in the Canary Islands, Colombia and most Latin American countries. In Mexico, however, the juice is called "licuado".

6. Maracuyá (passion fruit)

If you’ve ever been to Spain, you may have had a “zumo de maracuyá” (passion fruit juice), although this food is also known as “fruta de la pasión”. Other of the many names that it receives in Latin America are “granadilla púrpura”, “pasionaria”, “curuba”, “parcha”, “calabacito” or “ceibey”.

7. Palomitas de maíz (popcorn)

This is the name that this delicious corn-based snack receives in Spain, while in Argentina it is called “pochocló” or “pororó”, “cabritas” in Chile, and “cotufas” in Venezuela.

8. Papaya

This is the name that this tropical fruit (famous for its many good properties) receives in Spain and some Latin American countries. Other names are “papayón”, “olocotón”, “lechoza” or “lechosa” in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, and “frutabomba” in Cuba. In Paraguay and Argentina, they refer to this fruit as "mamón", but be careful, because in many Latin American countries, and also in Spain, this word means something completely different and can be received as an insult.

9. Patata (potato)

The Solanum tuberusom tuber is known as “patata” in Spain (peninsula and Balearic Islands), where it is the main ingredient of one of the most typical recipes in this country: the Spanish tortilla. But, in Latin America and in the Canary Islands, it maintains the Quechua origin name "papa", as in this language of the Peruvian Andes, from where it was exported to the rest of the world after the conquest of America in the 15th century.

10. Plátano (banana)

If you are in Spain and want to ask what the favorite food of monkeys is, the answer will be “plátano”. However, Venezuelans would answer "campur" and in other Caribbean countries, "banana" or "guineo".

And here ends today’s blog post. At don Quijote, we hope you enjoyed it and, above all, that it serves you for the future. Finally, we encourage you to share with us more examples of lexical varieties in Spanish.

See you soon!

What do countries such as Argentina, Chile, Spain and Mexico all have in common? Only the language?

What would you say if I tell you that they all share something with Belgium, Italy, Portugal and Romania as well? Click here to unlock the secret in Spanish.

All these countries have at least one square in one of their cities named Plaza de España. For example, Argentina has one in Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza and La Plata, among other cities. The one from Belgium is in Brussels. Chile has one in Concepción and in Santiago de Chile. Beautiful Philippines also host one in popular Manila… And so on and so forth. There are more than 30 squares named Plaza de España around the globe.

Squares in Spain

Plaza de España in Barcelona

In Spain, the most important Plazas de España are in Barcelona, Madrid and Seville.

Madrid’s Plaza de España, with over 398ft², is the biggest square in the country. It was built in the 19^th Century, although its original name was actually Plaza de San Gil. In Exchange, Barcelona’s Plaza de España was built in 1929.

The one in Seville was constructed between 1914 and 1929, and it has a bench representing each of the Spanish provinces back then. Here’s a fun fact: this square has been home to several movie sets, like Star Wars: Episode II.

Squares in America

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, we have Mendoza’s Plaza de España in Argentina, which was built after an earthquake hit the city in 1964. Another Argentinian square which shares this name in Cordoba is the neuralgic center of the city, where the 6 most important avenues meet.  Buenos Aires’ Plaza de España is located in the formerly called Mataderos del Sud. The homonymous square in Montevideo (Uruguay) covers almost 10 acres.

Plaza de España in Guam

Let’s fly to the Pacific! There we’ll find Guam, a US-dependent territory that has its own Plaza de España. Its capital city, Agaña, hosts this square after a bombing took place in town during World War II. Before that, the area was part of the Spanish Governor’s palace.

Squares in Europe

Another fun fact: Lisbon’s Plaza de España was called only Plaza España until 1979, and the one in Manila (Philippines) has a statue of King Philipp II of Spain in the center. Did you know that the one in Brussels has a sculpture of don Quixote and Sancho Panza?

Plaza de España in Rome

However, one of the most popular squares named Plaza de España around the world is the one in Rome, Italy’s capital city. In the middle of it you’ll find the beautiful Fontana della Barcaccia, sculpted by Bernini. Its huge staircase has 135 steps, and in the up-right corner the old house of the poet John Keats is still standing.

There are just a few of the many squares named Plaza de España around the world. So, if you’re truly an explorer, take the chance to visit them and learn Spanish in the way! Learn more about remote places with lots of Spanish heritage in this video.

"Dying is a wild night and a new road." (Emily Dickinson)

The celebration of death

The Halloween celebration is fast approaching, and with it all the preparations for the spookiest night of the year, a night at which we remember those who are no longer among us. At don Quijote, we want to take this opportunity to bring you some interesting facts about the origins of this tradition and its meaning.

You can also read this blog post in Spanish.

Although it is true that Halloween is especially commemorated in the US (or in Mexico, where the festival is known as Day of the Dead and consists of honoring deceased loved ones), the fiesta has been exported to the rest of the world in recent decades and it seems that has come for good. Decorated pumpkins and skulls, the game of "trick or treat" or the costumes of witches, ghosts and zombies have become part of our collective imaginary.

However, and contrary to what many may think, Halloween wasn’t invented in the US. Read on to find out more about the history of Halloween.

History of Halloween

No one knows what happens when we pass away, but death, as well as all the mystery around it, has always been a source of inspiration for artists of all ages and disciplines. But not only for artists, because if there is something that we all have in common, it’s precisely that the grim reaper awaits all at the end of our days.

Since time immemorial and to this day, death has been very present in the traditions and customs of many cultures and peoples around the world. In order to explain why Halloween is celebrated we must go back to the times of the Celtic communities in Ireland. Like most celebrations and traditions, this is a festival of pagan origin.

The ritual was known as Samhain ("the end of summer" in Gaelic) and it was meant to honor autumnal equinox and, which commemorated the end of the harvest, which coincided with the arrival of the Celtic New Year. However, this is not the only nor the most important reason, because what the Celts mainly pursued was to connect with the world of the dead. The belief was that the barrier that separated this world and the next one was thinner at this time of the year, maybe because nights are longer during this period.

It was also believed that evil spirits came from the other world to take the living, so the Druids made bonfires and spells to ward them off. People prepared food and sweets and left it at the door of their houses to entertain them.

But with the appearance of Christianity, the tradition underwent several changes, since it was considered that this kind of ritual could attract the devil. In this way, the party was transferred to November 1 and called All Saints Day.

The party arrives in the United States

It was in the 18th century, with the first wave of Irish immigrants, when the party is exported to the United States. Although at first the celebration was persecuted by the Puritans who lived in New England, after the second wave of migration in the late nineteenth century, they managed to establish the holiday permanently.

The tradition was mixed with the beliefs of the American Indians at the time of the conquest of the West. In this way and in these years, the custom of telling scary stories, the "trick or treat", the costumes of witches and ghosts begin to be included in the rituals of celebration.

Nowadays

The Halloween party became one of the most important in North America. And at the end of the twentieth century, in most European countries and possibly thanks to the influence of literature, film and television, young people began to celebrate this date in the style of the States.

Thus, the holiday has been moving away from the Judeo-Christian tradition year after year, being transformed into a night event full of mystery, ghosts, zombies, witches and sense of humor.

Forget about the Easter Bunny – in Spanish-speaking countries, a whole week is dedicated to commemorating the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus and yet not once does a furry egg-bearing animal hop into view. Today we’re bringing you some fun facts about Semana Santa, one of the most important events of the year in many countries around the world. Click here to read this post in Spanish.

Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday. Wherever you are studying Spanish in Latin America, on this day the city will be filled with people carrying palm leaves, often braided into crosses and other shapes, to church to be blessed. Afterwards, the churchgoers will take the palms home and hang them over or behind the front door for protection. These palms will be burned the following year on Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent.

This custom, like many others, harks back to Semana Santa traditions from Spain. Street processions with live music and beautiful floats carrying religious figures through the city can also be found across Latin America. Of course, although there are several common threads that run throughout the Americas, each region’s local traditions and personality is infused into the way Holy Week is observed there.

Many countries follow traditional eating customs with special foods that are typically eaten only during Lent and Holy Week. In Ecuador, that dish is fanesca, a thick soup made with cod and 12 different types of grains and legumes. The fish is said to represent Jesus, while the 12 other star ingredients (which may vary depending on the chef) represent the 12 disciples.

Holy Friday, the day of Jesus’s death, is the most solemn day of Semana Santa. Only a few generations ago in Costa Rica and other countries, people remained mostly silent all day and refrained from bathing or swimming. People who dared to go against tradition ran the risk of turning into a fish.

In Mexico, Holy Saturday becomes a day of fire with the Quema de Judas. Large papier-mâché statues of Judas Iscariote (who betrayed Jesus), the devil, and even different political figures are hanged and burned before the eyes of hundreds of spectators. Like the Fallas of Valencia, this flaming tradition is a powerful sight to behold.

Easter Sunday is a joyful day throughout Latin America. After mass, people gather together with food, music, and dancing to celebrate Jesus’s resurrection. The atmosphere is contagious, and whether or not you’re consider yourself a religious person, you’re sure to enjoy the emotional release.

With so many unique traditions and events, Holy Week is one of the best times to learn Spanish in Spain or Latin America and become immersed in the local culture. If you didn’t make it this year, start planning your trip for April 5-12, 2020!

In the weeks leading up to Lent, everyone is getting ready for one of the most spectacular events on the Canary Islands: carnival. During this celebration, the seven islands step into the spotlight for the most colorful and joyful fiesta of the year.

Thanks to the pleasant subtropical climate, locals and visitors can let their imaginations run wild as they prepare fantastic costumes to wear without having to worry about the cold weather the rest of Spain suffers from this time of year.

Nights bursting with color

One of the pivotal moments is the election of the Queen of Carnival, who becomes the face of the festival. To compete for the title, several candidates show off enormous costumes adorned with feathers and beads of every color.

These flashy outfits can weigh as much as 450 pounds and are the result of months of work. International media flock to Tenerife and Las Palmas for the elections to cover the most famous part of Canarian carnival.

Music in the streets

Other highlights include the murgas, the Mogollones, and the parades of floats. The murgas are musical groups who sing satirical songs about current events. They dress up to participate in competitions and are similar to the chirigotas of Cadiz.

The Mogollones are celebrations that take place over several nights during the carnival season. Party-goers visit beach bars and street stands as music flows throughout the city.

One of the biggest crowd-pleasers are the parades. During the Gran Cabalgata in Las Palmas, close to 100 decked-out floats and cars parade through the city streets.

The finishing touch

All good things must come to an end, and carnival is no exception. In the Canary Islands, the burial of the sardine is the perfect finale. In keeping with long tradition, a mock funeral is held, and a large representation of a sardine is burned in the middle of a fireworks show.

This March, we invite you to come to our Spanish school in Tenerife and experience Canarian carnival for yourself. Enjoy a different kind of winter and immerse yourself in the joy of the Canarian people!

Every February 14^th people across Spain and many Latin American countries celebrate Día de San Valentín or Día de los enamorados. It’s the perfect occasion to show that special someone how much you care and open your heart to them.

Some of the most typical gifts on this day are a bouquet of roses (red roses are best), a box of chocolates, a romantic dinner by candlelight… Whatever your plans are, there’s one thing that adds a special touch to any intimate moment: music.

Music has an amazing power to affect people’s emotions. Plus, everyone knows that learning song lyrics is one of the most effective ways to learn vocabulary and improve your listening comprehension in a new language. Of course, reading helps, too: click here to read this article in Spanish.

This Valentine’s Day we’re bringing you a selection of love songs in Spanish to awaken your inner romantic. Whether you’re preparing for an unforgettable date or eating ice cream alone on the couch, we have a song you can identify with.

Below, we’ll give you the best verses to help you learn Spanish on Valentine’s Day. Crank up the volume and sing along!

Songs to break the ice

Héroe, by Enrique Iglesias                                           Anoche soñé contigo, by Kevin Johansen

Si pudiera ser tu héroe                                                  Anoche soñé contigo

Si pudiera ser tu dios                                                     Y no estaba durmiendo

Que salvarte a ti mil veces                                          Todo lo contrario

Puede ser mi salvación (…)                                          Estaba bien despierto (…)

Songs for a broken heart

Naranjo en flor, by Roberto Goyeneche                Corazón partío, by Alejandro Sanz

Primero hay que saber sufrir,                                     ¿Qué fue de la ilusión y de lo bello que es vivir?
Después amar, después partir                                   Para qué me curaste cuando estaba herido
y al fin andar sin pensamiento                                  Si hoy me dejas de nuevo el corazón partío (…)

Perfume de naranjo en flor

Promesas vanas de un amor

Que se escaparon en el viento (…)

Songs to be shouted from the rooftops

Ando ganas, by Los Piojos                                           A Dios le pido, by Juanes

Solo una cosa te digo                                                    Que si me muero sea de amor
Yo necesito un abrigo                                                   Y si me enamoro sea de vos
Que en esta tierra hace frío                                        Y que de tu voz sea este corazón (…)
si no estás al lado mío                                                 
Y como vos no hay ninguna
No brilla tanto la luna
Ando ganas de encontrarte
Quiero llevarte pa' Marte (...)

Songs for a candlelit dinner

Hasta la raíz, by Natalia Lafourcade                                       Antes, by Jorge Drexler

Yo te llevo dentro, hasta la raíz                                                 Antes de mí, tú no eras tú
y por más que crezca, vas a estar aquí                                   Antes de ti, yo no era yo
Aunque yo me oculte tras la montaña                                   Antes de ser nosotros dos

y no encuentre un campo lleno de caña                                No había ninguno de los dos (…)

no habrá manera, mi rayo de luna

de que tú te vayas (…)

Now that you’ve got the perfect playlist for today, we’d like to wish you a Feliz San Valentín. However you choose to celebrate, turn on the tunes! The rest will come naturally.