I bet you all the money in the Spanish lotería that if you were (or are) in Spain during the holiday season you would have this problem too...
During the Christmas season in American English, we wish each other Merry Christmas often. Well, now it's more about "Happy Holidays." But we say it enough to prove my point here...
What song comes to your mind after your read the following words: Merry Christmas?
Now tell me, what song do you think of after reading these words: Feliz Navidad?
The chances are, in English you had to think for a minute. And I wouldn't doubt that several readers thought of several different songs. There isn't a well-known pop Christmas song that's main lyrics are only "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas" and repeated a superfluous amount of times.
But in Spanish, it's a different story. I'm sure only one song immediately came to mind. This one.
Even if you don't speak Spanish and you thought of this song, you're not alone. The rest of Spain--and other Spanish speaking countries, I'm sure--is right with you. (Only here in Spain it's Felith Navithath.)
Think of all the times you've seen or heard the words "Merry/Happy Christmas." Now just imagine that each time you see or hear it that an annoying, yet somehow likable, song locks into your brain for days.
I just finished my last week before going home for Christmas. All of my students and friends were wishing me "Feliz Navidad." Then walking home, I saw signs along the way wishing me the same--"Feliz Navidad." Even the bus wished me a "Feliz Naviad" with its flashing display.
It's going to take a few weeks before I rid my brain of this canción.
My advice to a guiri: ...Oh what the heck? Feliz Navidad.
During the Christmas season in American English, we wish each other Merry Christmas often. Well, now it's more about "Happy Holidays." But we say it enough to prove my point here...
What song comes to your mind after your read the following words: Merry Christmas?
Now tell me, what song do you think of after reading these words: Feliz Navidad?
The chances are, in English you had to think for a minute. And I wouldn't doubt that several readers thought of several different songs. There isn't a well-known pop Christmas song that's main lyrics are only "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas" and repeated a superfluous amount of times.
But in Spanish, it's a different story. I'm sure only one song immediately came to mind. This one.
Even if you don't speak Spanish and you thought of this song, you're not alone. The rest of Spain--and other Spanish speaking countries, I'm sure--is right with you. (Only here in Spain it's Felith Navithath.)
Think of all the times you've seen or heard the words "Merry/Happy Christmas." Now just imagine that each time you see or hear it that an annoying, yet somehow likable, song locks into your brain for days.
I just finished my last week before going home for Christmas. All of my students and friends were wishing me "Feliz Navidad." Then walking home, I saw signs along the way wishing me the same--"Feliz Navidad." Even the bus wished me a "Feliz Naviad" with its flashing display.
It's going to take a few weeks before I rid my brain of this canción.
My advice to a guiri: ...Oh what the heck? Feliz Navidad.
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