Greeting People with Authority The formal Spanish greetings are easy to remember. “Buenos días” is for good morning, “buenas tardes” for good afternoon, and “buenas noches” for good evening. These are the ways to greet someone you don’t know, people with authority, or people in a business meeting.

Beginning Your Formal Spanish Letter

1. If you don’t know the exact person you’re writing to, use Muy señor(a) mío/a (My dear Sir/Madam)
2. For writing to an institution, use Muy señores míos (Dear Sirs)
3. The most formal opener is Distinguido/a Señor(a) (Distinguished Mr./Mrs.), followed by the person’s surname if you know it.

If you don’t know the name of the person you’re writing to, you can use the following formats:

1. Muy señor mío: (Dear sir,)
2. Estimado señor: (Dear sir,)
3. Muy señora mía: (Dear madam,)
4. Estimada señora: (Dear madam,)
5. Muy señores míos: (Dear sirs, dear sirs/madams,)
6. Estimados señores: (Dear sirs, dear sirs/madams,)

If the person with whom you are speaking has no title, use Señor for men, Señora for married women, and Señorita for unmarried women and secretaries. Their surnames should follow the title. Being sure to greet all who are present is another essential way of displaying respect in Mexico.

Mexicans generally stand close together when conversing. Mexicans often “hold” a gesture (a handshake, a squeeze of the arm, a hug) longer than Americans and Canadians do. Don’t stand with your hands on your hips; this signifies anger. It is considered rude to stand around with your hands in your pockets.

*Birthday: In Mexico, birthday are celebrated at every age and these parties usually involve a piñata (especially for children). And according to Kent, modern-day Mexicans will appreciate gifts of clothes, jewelry, leather goods, chocolates and flowers, and a nice big dinner.

Mexicans are generally polite and formal when interacting with people they do not know well. When speaking to an elder or to someone with whom you will have a professional relationship, it is customary to use the formal pronoun usted instead of the informal tú.

Mexican Christmas food The largest celebratory meal is eaten on Christmas Eve and will consist of turkey or ham, or in some regions salted cod along with plenty of sweet treats. All throughout the Christmas season you’ll see tamales – stuffed dough, steamed in a corn husk – being eaten.

Traditionally, in Mexico, children don’t receive presents from Santa Claus. However, his popularity is growing in Mexican Christmas celebrations. Because of this, some children will receive gifts on 24 December – or Christmas Eve – as well as on 6 January for Dia de Reyes.

Santa Claus

New Year’s Eve, Nochevieja or Año Nuevo in Spanish, is a very important night in Mexico and celebrations can be at home with a late night dinner with family and friends or in restaurants and bars where you can dance the night away.

Mexicans try to avoid scratching an itchy palm. According to Mexican beliefs, an itch reveals good fortune. They believe that scratching an itchy palm is like driving money away.

Eat 12 grapes in 60 seconds Perhaps the most famous Hispanic New Year’s Eve ritual is the eating of 12 grapes and making of 12 wishes during the 60 second countdown to midnight.

Most Mexicans celebrate New Year’s Eve by having a late-night dinner with their families. Those who want to party will generally go out afterward. The largest public celebration is in Mexico City, where there is a huge street festival on the last night of the year.

According to Mexican tradition, the Nativity representation must be kept on Candlemas Day, candles are brought to bless and Baby Jesus is presented at the church of your election, the child’s godfather should dress it and at night all the family comes together to eat tamales and atole at the expense of those who have …

Every year, New Year’s Day is celebrated with a big tango party at around 8 p.m., in the Líber Seregni square in the neighborhood of Cordón. The party is organized by “Milonga Callejera,” famous tango dancers participate and everyone is invited to join in the traditional dance or watch the show.

Public holidays in Uruguay