WATCH – LATV’s ‘The Big Deal’: What Does “Felices Fiestas” Mean?

Navidades, festividades… we all have our own way of celebrating in Spanish! In a recent special episode of LATV’s The Big Deal, we talked about how the holiday season is celebrated in various Latin American countries. Titled “How do you say Holidays in Spanish?,” the show delved into the linguistic nuances that make the festive season unique.

What does “felices fiestas” mean?

The term “holiday” means “feriado” in Spanish, which typically means a national day off for a festivity or national anniversary. The term also extends to vacations, represented by “vacaciones.”

When referring to “The Holidays” in the context of the festive season at the end of the year, Latin Americans commonly use the phrase “Felices Fiestas.” This expression serves to encompass the joyous spirit of Christmas, New Year’s, and the celebration of The Three Wise Men, all while avoiding religious specificity.

There is a difference in Latin America compared to the U.S., where a wider range of religions is present. In Latin America, Christmas is often associated with Catholicism, leading to the use of greetings like “Merry Christmas” or “Feliz Navidad” specifically on December 25th and “Happy Holidays” or “Felices Fiestas” on the whole two weeks.

“In my family, on the 25th, we spend it all together in the pool. We play summer games, eat ice cream, and our Santa Claus even wears a speedo or a bikini – something a bit more sexy!” – Dakyta

Holidays – LATV’s The Big Deal

The conversation kicked off with a discussion between the host Martin Rizo and Dakyta about the linguistic variations in expressing holiday greetings in Spanish. The hosts put the question, “How do you say Holidays in Spanish?” into the table, revealing a range of expressions used across different countries. One host shared, “Growing up, I always heard ‘las fiestas navideñas.’ Navideñas is just for Christmas, at least in Argentina. So, we say ‘las fiestas,’ meaning Christmas and New Year.”

The hosts pointed out that in Latin America, “las fiestas” can encompass various celebrations, not just limited to Christmas. The other host remarked, “Las fiestas could be any fiesta,” emphasizing the broader meaning of the term. However, the first presenter added, “For us, ‘las fiestas’ specifically refers to Christmas and the end of the year. We say ‘felices fiestas’ instead of ‘happy holidays.'”

A humorous exchange followed as host Martin Rizoone expressed hesitation about using the phrase “felices fiestas,” prompting laughter from the others. Despite the linguistic differences, the hosts highlighted the commonality of wishing each other well during the festive season with phrases like “feliz navidad” and “feliz año nuevo.”

The conversation took a turn as Dakyta shared her personal experience of celebrating Christmas in Argentina, where the holiday season coincides with the peak of summer. With temperatures soaring to around 40 degrees Celsius, or over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, Christmas in Argentina becomes a blend of tradition in the heat of summer

“In my family, on the 25th, we spend it all together in the pool. We play summer games, eat ice cream, and our Santa Claus even wears a speedo or a bikini – something a bit more sexy!”

Also Read: Your Essential Holiday Gift Guide for Your Latinx Family