Culture and language can’t be taken apart. When we study, we learn about what the people who speak the language make, do and how they see the world.
If you’re looking for fresh, high-interest videos to engage your students, the collection below is a goldmine. These short YouTube videos are perfect for warm-ups, bell-ringers, cultural connections, listening tasks, and speaking prompts — especially in upper novice and intermediate Spanish classes.
Consider doing comprehension activities. Video ELE has a rich collection of activities on their site. You can link through their YouTube channel.
Once they have watched at least once, you have all extracted key vocabulary from the video, have them (or you, if you are a learner) write about it in Spanish.
These are great sources for group presentations. Consider having them make a 3-column or Venn Diagram. They should fill it in Spanish with 10 similarities and differences. Have them add a few visuals. They can present their posters in groups.
There is a chat mat to talk about Carnaval and a graphic to compare and contrast celebrations in Spanish across cultures.
1. Popular Festivals in Spain
Use for: Culture mini-lesson, celebrations vocabulary, preterite practice.
Teacher Prompts:
- ¿Qué fiesta te gustaría visitar? ¿Por qué?
- Describe tres cosas que observas en el video.
- Compara una fiesta española con una celebración en tu comunidad.
https://youtu.be/lrxjLhD5Ng4?si=6bujw4ekne4CnlaB
2-4. Carnaval en España
Carnaval is a celebration held before Lent featuring colorful costumes, masks, parades, music, and dancing. Each city adds its own unique traditions, with Cádiz and Tenerife hosting some of the most famous Carnavales in Spain.
https://youtu.be/3krgN8PJZX8?si=JuwuRu1x36wFc02-
https://youtu.be/HY7pH3Gn-k0?si=1xUfDVHLNqMZOhSV
https://youtu.be/5LbW34UsPUA?si=WrFm-TzNqIBFAk_a
5. Las Fallas
Valencia’s festival where giant artistic sculptures called fallas are displayed throughout the city, then burned in massive bonfires during a final night called La Cremà. Fireworks and street parties fill the week.
https://youtu.be/h8fiPiu0Mto?si=Nv2RewythGWabvof
6. Fiesta mayor en Barcelona
https://youtu.be/vpI4FoON1mg?si=zgN-LYY4qver_pyZ
7. Fiesta de San Fermín
Held in Pamplona, this festival includes the famous encierro, where participants run through the streets ahead of charging bulls, along with parades, music, and regional traditions.
https://youtu.be/AHKO2DyPBnc?si=6vo5-dcbysBCD7w3
8. Fiesta de San Isídro
https://youtu.be/g9VR7IbmA7g?si=oMJ-7E3FWjaoaAIn
9-10. Semana Santa
Spain’s Holy Week celebration with solemn religious processions, elaborate floats, and centuries-old brotherhoods (cofradías). Seville and Málaga are especially well-known for their dramatic processions.
https://youtu.be/9VmUUb__4nM?si=IUw7aqKS11M7aERY
https://youtu.be/SGrq2oCqkRY?si=mhk4orxF_gTaVSQC
11. La Feria de Abril
A weeklong spring festival with traditional flamenco dresses, horse-drawn carriages, music, dancing sevillanas, and festive family-owned tents called casetas.
https://youtu.be/ECGULsP3ik4?si=tL9LMNRSC-qUKmdP
12. La Tomatina
A world-famous tomato-throwing festival in Buñol. Thousands of participants fill the streets to throw ripe tomatoes at one another in a friendly, messy food fight.
https://youtu.be/ftr2OaQblF8?si=ptYNsf3TfRTls4fc
13. La Noche de San Juan
A summer solstice celebration with bonfires, fireworks, and beach gatherings. People jump over small fires or waves for good luck.
https://youtu.be/0RJ02qzFH20?si=vav_YC-pwGvgWfjm
14. La ofrenda floral de la Virgen de Pilar
https://youtu.be/C3NQoSUfV5w?si=WH9dAXKU1hTYXe1M
15. El 12 de octubre
Spain’s national holiday on October 12, marked by military parades and celebrations of Spanish heritage and history.
https://youtu.be/f6oBBv5Gpm8?si=EQQ0PcF8zsl2qcDS
16-18. El Día de Todos los Santos
https://youtu.be/L8qFmBDNy1Q?si=wqK3JHpoTJdO4SYz
https://youtu.be/SYCbf7d_lzE?si=2gO7W6CjG3jV1Mc_
Navidad: Here’s a link to one on Christmas:
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