Celebrating the National Day of Spain
Karl: So, I live in Spain and I’ve lived in a few different parts, different areas in Spain, and something they always celebrate in October is their National Day.
Karl: And, a big part of the day is, like, military parades, naval bands in the streets, um, aerial parades in Madrid, with like the, you know, the planes flying over.
Karl: Um, I- I guess, of course, Spanish- the Spanish are very proud of this, and they like to celebrate: waving flags, um, you know, with the army … different types of military parading around town.
Karl: And, apart from this, it’s … I guess maybe more common for people just to have the- a long weekend and go away for the weekend, spend some time with family and friends.
Karl: Um, but it’s not really, like, a- a traditional, like, ‘fiesta’, like, party holiday, um, when- you know, where they’re always cel- celebrating, drinking, and partying. It’s more, uh, I guess, yeah, more … calm holiday.
Vocabulary:
different areas – distinct regions, parts, or locations within a country or place, “She has traveled to many different areas of France to taste the local cuisine.”
National Day – an official holiday celebrating the history, culture, or independence of a nation, “People dressed in national colors to celebrate their country’s National Day.”
military parades – formal processions of soldiers, vehicles, and equipment marching down public streets to show national strength, “Thousands of citizens gathered in the city center to watch the annual military parades.”
naval bands – groups of musicians belonging to a navy who play instruments while marching or performing publicly, “The naval bands played lively maritime tunes during the festival by the harbor.”
aerial parades – ceremonial flyovers or displays where military airplanes fly together in formations over a city, “The crowd looked up to watch the jets zoom past during the spectacular aerial parades.”
very proud of – feeling deep satisfaction, pleasure, or honor regarding your country, achievements, or loved ones, “The parents were very proud of their daughter when she graduated from university.”
waving flags – holding and moving a national banner back and forth in the air to show celebration or patriotism, “The stadium was filled with enthusiastic fans waving flags for their team.”
long weekend – a period of three or four days off from work or school, usually because a holiday falls on a Monday or Friday, “We are planning a camping trip because we have a long weekend ahead.”
go away for the weekend – to leave your hometown to travel somewhere else for relaxation or a short vacation over Saturday and Sunday, “They love to pack their bags and go away for the weekend to escape the busy city.”
party holiday – a public holiday known primarily for loud celebrations, drinking, festivals, and nightlife, “New Year’s Eve is widely considered a massive party holiday around the world.”
calm holiday – a peaceful and relaxing day off, rather than a busy or chaotic celebration, “Instead of going to a loud event, we enjoyed a very calm holiday at home with a good book.”