Spot the Real Rosé
It seems much of the French pink consumers have been drinking over the past 2 years has in fact been cheap Spanish rosado…
Lovers of French wine are suddenly seeing red. Earlier this year, they feared they wouldn’t have enough of their beloved rosé to get them through the summer, because Americans are buying it all. Now it seems much of the French pink they’ve been consuming over the past 2 years has in fact been cheap Spanish rosado.
Photo by Justin Aikin
France’s consumer fraud authority confirmed in early July that over the past 2 years, unscrupulous wine merchants have passed off as many as 70,000 hectoliters (equivalent to 10 million bottles) of cheap Spanish wine as more-expensive French rosé. That’s shocking news in a country where protesters have been known to stop tanker trucks with imported wines and empty their contents on the road near the border.
This kind of story plays well in headlines because it reinforces 2 popular stereotypes: Those crafty French, and the snooty wine snobs who can’t tell the difference between bad knockoffs and good wine. It also highlights basic economics and current trends in the production and marketing of wine.
French consumer fraud investigators said they became aware of the “Frenchification” of Spanish wine in late 2015, then began canvassing stores and restaurants to verify the authenticity of wines being sold. They found that 22 percent of the establishments they surveyed were selling Spanish wine that was either fraudulently or misleadingly labeled as French, according to Le Parisien, which broke the story.
While it is unclear whether any of the fraudulent wine was exported, it is possible that some may have made it's way to the United States as well.
We hope you've enjoyed learning how the Spanish are challenging the French to Spot the Real Rosé! On a scale of 1 -10 how likely are you to be able to differentiate the real vs. the fake version of this highly popular summer wine? Join the conversation below to let us know!
Spain's Lost City
On July 1st, The UNESCO list of world heritage sites added the medieval Spanish city of Medina Azahara, to the growing list of Spanish sites honored…
Spain's Lost City
On July 1st, The UNESCO list of world heritage sites added the medieval Spanish city of Medina Azahara, to the growing list of Spanish sites honored.
The site, which houses the ancient ruins of a city founded by the first caliph of Al-Andalus had remained buried for nearly 1000 years before its discovery at the beginning of the 20th century. It houses the ancient ruins of a city founded by the first caliph (a person considered a religious successor to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad, and a leader of the entire community) of Al-Andalus.
Built beginning in 936-940, the city included reception halls, mosques, government offices, gardens, barracks, and baths with water supplied through aqueducts. The main reason for its construction was politico-ideological: "the dignity of the Caliph required the establishment of a new city, a symbol of his power, imitating other Eastern Caliphates." A Legend also states that it was built as a tribute for the Caliph's favorite wife: Azahara.
According to the official WHC entry, “The Caliphate city of Medina Azahara is an archaeological site of a city built in the mid-10th century CE by the Umayyad dynasty as the seat of the Caliphate of Cordoba. After prospering for several years, it was laid to waste during the civil war that put an end to the Caliphate in 1009-10. The remains of the city were forgotten for almost 1,000 years until their rediscovery in the early 20th century. This complete urban ensemble features infrastructure such as roads, bridges, water systems, buildings, decorative elements and everyday objects. It provides in-depth knowledge of the now vanished Western Islamic civilization of Al-Andalus, at the height of its splendour.”
It is Spain’s only candidate this year but replaces France as the third country with the most sites on this list following China and Italy.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about Spain's Lost City! Before you book that ticket to witness the sunken city, be sure to check out our culturally immersive group classes! Our native instructors are sure to equip you with all of the knowledge, culturally and linguistically, you may need to navigate Spain's newest "world heritage" site.
Monumental Misfortune
In late June, the statue of St. George at a church in Estella in northeastern Spain was experiencing higher than regular visitation numbers. Unfortunately, it was due to a badly botched restoration…
Monumental Misfortune
In late June, the statue of St. George at a church in Estella in northeastern Spain was experiencing higher than regular visitation numbers. Unfortunately, it was due to a badly botched restoration.
The statue is believed to have been completed sometime in the 1500s, and the new coat of paint has had locals wishing that they could turn back the clock. A local bishop said that the priest did not want to restore the statue just to have it cleaned.
The company behind the St. George project, Karmacolor, had published a video about the restoration process but has since taken it down as outrage has mounted against them.
"We cannot tolerate more attacks on our cultural heritage," Spain's art conservation association (ACRE) said in a statement. "It shows a frightening lack of training of the kind required for this sort of job” and that it showed “dreadful lack of previous training.” The association is currently pushing for criminal charges for the destruction of a cultural symbol.
The final product has been compared to the “Ecce Homme” disastrous restoration that occurred in 2012, which made headlines around the world and was dubbed the “worst restoration in history” for making the figure of Jesus look much like a monkey.
But the move has enraged local officials who are demanding to know why they were not informed of the church's plans.
Some positives did come from her efforts however, as the town drew thousands more visitors eager to see her "restoration" and she even had her own art exhibited. Whether the controversy-driven traffic to the statue of St. George turns out nearly as positive still remains to be seen.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about this Monumental Misfortune! Before you book that ticket to witness the statue of St. George that is causing so much controversy, be sure to check out our culturally immersive group classes! Our native instructors are sure to equip you with all of the knowledge, culturally and linguistically, you may need to describe this "monumental" misfortune.
Bizarre Fashion With Balenciaga
The Spanish fashion company, Balenciaga may have come up with the most absurd article of clothing produced this year…
Bizarre Fashion With Balenciaga
The fashion industry is well known for composing outfits that may not make sense to the average consumer. However, the Spanish fashion company, Balenciaga may have come up with the most absurd article of clothing produced this year.
Balenciaga’s “T-shirt Shirt” is part of the luxury’s fashion house’s Fall ‘18 collection. Essentially it’s a T-shirt with a shirt draped on top of it, and it can be yours for only just $1,290. If you’re not already frantically searching for the website to purchase, just remember: you’re getting a T-shirt and a shirt, it’s basically buy one get one free.
(insert cry-laughing emoji followed by actual crying emoji).
Photo: Balenciaga
It may come as a surprise, but Balenciaga are the masters of selling somewhat (if not extremely) odd clothing at astronomical prices. After creative director Demna Gvasalia took the helm of the Spanish fashion brand, they have created many viral pieces.
Photo: Balenciaga & Ikea
Who could forget the $2,000 Ikea-inspired bag made waves online last year. Even Ikea put out a tongue-in-cheek guide helping you tell a genuine Frakta bag from an imposter: “if it rustles, it’s real.”
Photo: www.neimanmarcus.com
Then there was Balenciaga x Crocs that were released at Paris Fashion Week last year. Despite costing $850, they sold out before they were even officially for sale. Don’t worry, we’re just as shocked as you are.
Trolling the entire fashion world seems to be working out well for Balenciaga as the chief executive of Kering said that Balenciaga was the fastest growing brand within its group which includes Alexander McQueen, Saint Laurent, and Gucci. This is due to millennials most of whom aren’t actually buying the more outlandish items but Balenciaga’s more down-to-earth designs like the $395 leather wallet with “leather wallet” stamped on the front. Who would’ve guessed?
We hope you've enjoyed learning about Bizarre Fashion With Balenciaga! What is your take on the virally (in)famous brand's marketing strategy? Join the conversation below!
Taiwan's Spanish Celebration
Taiwan celebrated it’s very first "Spanish Day" in Taipei honoring the world's second-most-spoken language and its cultural heritage…
Taiwan's Spanish Celebration
This past March, Taiwan celebrated it’s very first "Spanish Day" in Taipei honoring the world's second-most-spoken language and its cultural heritage, as well as raise interest among local high school students in learning Spanish.
Photo: CNA
Paraguay, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican Republic round out the roster of the campaign initiated by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Taipei to instigate the day. The project to promote Spanish started six months ago, which also won support from representative offices from countries such as Chile, Peru, Mexico and the United States. According to the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, there are about 2,500 students with Spanish as their major in universities in Taiwan, with a further 2,000 students taking it as a second foreign language course.
Although interest in learning Spanish is growing in Taiwan's higher education system there remains a gap to fill among high school students. Considering that the world's Spanish-speaking population is nearly 548 million people, the popularity of the language has not yet received the desired amount of attention in Taiwan's high schools compared with European languages such as French and German.
Photo: Songshanculturalpark.org
The celebration hosted at the Songshan Cultural and Creative Park offered an array of cultural events including a Spanish speaking contest, screenings of Spanish-language movies and performances of art and dance.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about Taiwan's Spanish Celebration! What are your thoughts on the campaign to promote the Spanish language by the Spanish Chamber of Commerce? Join the conversation below!
The Wheel of Royalties
The global music publishing community is putting increased pressure on a controversial Spanish song rights collecting society…
The Wheel of Royalties
The global music publishing community is putting increased pressure on the controversial Spanish song rights collecting society SGAE, stating that publishers may be forced to find other ways to license their rights in the country.
Image credit: Gavin Whitner
SGAE has been the subject of many controversies in recent years including an alleged scam titled ‘the wheel’ that incorporated royalties paid by TV networks and alleged that SGAE members had colluded with executives at Spanish TV stations in order to collect a disproportionate amount of the TV royalties. The scam chiefly involved TV stations playing music by certain SGAE members overnight, so that those members could claim a portion of the broadcasters’ royalty payments.
This incident resulted in an investigation by the World Intellectual Property Organization following action by the International Confederation Of Music Publishers that suspended SGAE’s membership until it dealt with the controversy.
In a recent statement, the ICMP said: “Despite having been reprimanded in recent months by a WIPO Arbitration Panel, the international publishing community and the international community of collective management organizations, the society is returning to its inappropriate and unbalanced television broadcast distribution scam by rejecting the decision of the WIPO Arbitration Panel to which it is bound”. ICMP has also expressed concern about “the lack of firm action coming from the collective management community to address the seriousness of this situation”, which is presumably a coded dig at CISAC.
ICMP Chair, Chris Butler, has stated firmly that: “We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: it’s time for the collective management community to work decisively towards a definitive solution. If they don’t, we will have no choice but to look at alternative licensing options”.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about The Wheel of Royalties! How do you think the World Intellectual Property Organization and the International Confederation Of Music Publishers should handle the continued saga of "the wheel?" Join the conversation below!
The Red Wine of Summer
As the summer season rolls in, Spaniards are beginning to brew batches of tinto de verano - "red wine of summer.”
The Red Wine of Summer
Those who are familiar with Spanish fare know that red wine is the main summer beverage in the birthplace of tapas (Spain), so while the season of sangria begins, Spaniards are beginning to brew batches of tinto de verano - "red wine of summer.”
Creating this concoction involves mixing wine with a citrus element, such as lemonade, fresh squeezed lemon juice with fizz from carbonated water, or lemon-lime soda such as Sprite or 7UP. Tinto de verano is most often consumed at festivals and parties when hot days call for a refreshing, thirst-quenching drink that's simple to make.
In Spain, the beverage comes ready-made in large bottles at the supermarkets, but it's simple to make at home. One should, however, pay attention to the type of wine used in order to keep the flavors balanced.
We’ve included a sample version of the recipe below to keep you cool throughout the upcoming summer season.
Enjoy!
Tinto de verano
3 cups tempranillo red wine, about 1 bottle
1 cup KAS Spanish orange soda or other orange soda
Orange wedges
Combine red wine and soda in a pitcher. Pour over crushed ice in a tall glass. Garnish with an orange wedge. If too sweet, add a splash of seltzer water.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about The Red Wine of Summer! Do you have a favorite sangria recipe? Let us know by adding it in the comments below!
Day of The Spanish Language
On April 23, the “Day of the Spanish Language” is celebrated at the United Nations as a gesture to raise the awareness of the the history, culture and use of Spanish as an official language…
Day of The Spanish Language
On April 23rd, the “Day of the Spanish Language” is celebrated at the United Nations as a gesture to raise awareness about the history, culture and use of Spanish as an official language.
In 2010, the Organization decided to begin celebrating its diversity by creating “Language Days” for its 6 official languages:
March 20 – Day of the French language, coinciding with the International Day of La Francophonie.
April 20 – Day of the Chinese language, dedicated to Tsan Chieh, creator of the Chinese script.
April 23 – Day of the English language, which coincides with the anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, arguably the most famous dramatist and poet in the world of English literature.
April 23 – Day of the Spanish language which shares the date of the death of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, the mind behind the Spanish letters.
June 6 – Day of the Russian language, on the anniversary of the birth of Alexander Pushkin known as the founder of modern Russian literature.
December 18 – Day of the Arabic language, which commemorates the approval in 1973 of Arabic as the official and working language of the General Assembly and its Main Committees.
The Original Day of Spanish (El Día del Idioma Español) dates back to 1926, when writer Vicente Clavel Andrés first proposed the idea of a day dedicated to celebrating Spanish literature. Beginning in Valencia, the tradition quickly spread throughout Spain, and in 1964, it was adopted by all Spanish-speaking countries. Originally, October 12th was chosen as the day of celebration because it is traditionally observed as the day when Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas, marking the beginning of the spread of the Spanish language and culture as well as its lasting impact on the "new world." As of now, there has been no official statement made by the UN as to why the date was changed.
The United Nations encourages companies around the world to celebrate the Days of Languages and organize cultural events that show the importance of multilingualism through music, art, food, and movies.
This year, activities coordinated by the UN will included reading extracts from Don Quixote, a Spanish language test, and a round table discussion about inclusive communication to gender in Spanish.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about the United Nations' Day of The Spanish Language! What would you like to see the UN include in next year's festivities? Leave a comment below to join the conversation!
6 Spanish Words Adapted from English You Must Know!
We’ve put together a list of a few words that the Spanish have adopted for when traditional Spanish doesn’t quite cut it. To a native English speaker they sound familiar yet still slightly strange…
6 Spanish Words Adapted from English You Must Know!
While the French and Italians may spend more time than their linguistic counterparts being outwardly vocal about the preservation of their native tongue, the Spanish language is always evolving as well (much to the dismay of the Royal Spanish Academy who has launched their own campaign to slow the change). As globalization continues to become more prevalent, the “englishification” of the Spanish language has been on the rise. We’ve put together a list of a few words that the Spanish have adopted for when traditional Spanish doesn’t quite cut it. Keep in mind that these are slang terms that have been adapted to mean something entirely different than their original English meaning. So, to a native English speaker, they will sound familiar all the while sounding slightly strange. Here are 6 that you must know!
Footing - jogging (hacer footing would mean to 'go jogging')
Parking - used to refer to a car park or parking lot
Crack - used to describe someone who's great at doing something - essentially a compliment!
Gin-tonic the Spanish have adopted the English name for the refreshing alcoholic beverage and just dropped the 'and' in the middle.
El office - a pantry or utility room.
Smoking - this term has been adopted specifically in Spain to mean ‘black tie’ and is alternatively spelled 'un esmoquin'.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about 6 Spanish Words Adapted from English You Must Know! Interested in delving even further into the Spanish language? Our culturally infused group classes taught by native instructors can improve your fluency faster than you may have ever thought possible! Click below to learn more!
Español On Demand
The popular Spanish-language channel, Univision will soon be launching an extension of Univision Now for only $2.99 per month…
Español On Demand
The popular Spanish-language channel, Univision will be launching an extension of Univision Now with content not only from the broadcaster’s programming library, but Viacom and BBC as a subscription based video service. The service will cost $2.99 per month if you currently have access to cable TV. For access to live and on-demand content you pay only $8 per month, which is still cheaper than most current subscription based video platforms.
For those unfamiliar, Univision is an American Spanish-language broadcast television network that is owned by Univision Communications. The network's programming is aimed at Hispanic Americans and includes telenovelas, dramas, sportscasts, sitcoms, reality, news programming, and imported films.
Currently, Univision is headquartered in New York City and has its major studios, production facilities, and business operations based in Doral, Florida.
The original iteration of the branch debuted a few years ago to attempt to reach mobile device users, and according to Tonia O’Connor, CRO for Univision, “Since then, what we came to realize is that they (the customer base) can’t get enough of the content on an on-demand basis.” Also, “You should think of this as the Netflix for Spanish-language content. That is what we are building.”
Univision is also planning to partner with multiple other online companies an social platforms such as: Facebook, Snapchat, & Netflix. For advertisers, Univision will unveil the ad suite: Aperture. This will allow for precision targeted data and will also include Campaign Builder: a self-serve programmatic ad platform designed to measure the impact of campaigns.
Currently the release date of this service is still TBA.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how Univision is providing Español On Demand! Want to enjoy all of your favorite Spanish movies, telenovelas, and sportscasts in their most authentic form? Check out our highly-rated immersive group classes and private lessons at JP Linguistics today!
Summer Screams En Español!
It’s been a while since we have suggested a particular film for our readers to catch, but there is a new summer horror movie En Español that you absolutely should not miss!
Summer Screams En Español
It’s been a while since we have suggested a particular film for our readers to catch, but there is a new summer horror movie En Español that you absolutely should not miss!
Terror Films has released it’s official trailer and poster for their very first Spanish language horror movie, Forward, which is to be released Tuesday, May 1!
While the history of the Spanish cinema, specifically in the horror genre, is not in mainstream of most North American lives, we highly recommend the documentary, “Horror Europa", which explores the genre all the way from Nosferatu to the modern Spanish cinema. Even if it has been under-appreciated, Spain has long been a master of horror, excelling specifically in the realm of psychological dreads with some of the most drastic plot twists in the genre.
While Spain has had a horror boom that mirrored the U.S. in the 1960s and 1970s, it wasn’t until nearly 10 years ago that the international community began to take notice. Spain has since emerged as a leader of horror, delivering some of the most terrifying films in recent memory.
In fact, Vulture.com has curated a list of 15 of the best in case you want to catch up.
Written and directed by Henry Bedwell, the film features Harold Torres & Axel Ricco as 2 assassins hired to avenge their boss. Novel concept right?
According to the official press release, “The job leads them to what appears to be an abandoned hotel. However, they soon find themselves in an unexpected maze of madness, where realities intertwine and nightmares come to life. Faced with an evil demon named Larissa – played by Latin America television star Lisette Morelos – the duo realizes that the gates of hell prove to be closer to our plane of existence than either of them could have expected.”
FORWARD has been the the recipient of multiple film festival awards including:
Best Feature Fiction at the 12 Month Film Festival,
Winner of Best Fantasy Film at the Feratum Film Festival
the Laurel of Achievement at Cinema Grand Prix.
In addition, Forward also recieved an official selection at: Sustefest, Los Angeles CineFest & BioBio Cine.
Terror Films will release FORWARD exclusively in N. America with English subtitles on Vudu, Amazon Instant, iTunes, Google Play and Xbox Live. Following the North American release, iTunes and Google Play will host Forward in Argentina, Belize, Bolivia, Chile, Mexico, Costa Rica, & Honduras with a worldwide release on additional platforms in the fall.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about Summer Screams En Español! Want to nix those pesky subtitles and enjoy all of your favorite Spanish movies in their most authentic form? Check out our highly-rated immersive group classes and private lessons at JP Linguistics today!
The Year of the Spanish Language
Marca España has stated that the Spanish language is “a global agent that produces wealth, identity, culture, and brand which still has great opportunities for expansion and development in the digital era. It is expected that in 30 years there will be over 700 million Spanish speakers.”
The Year of the Spanish Language
Earlier this year, Spain’s Minister of Culture, Íñigo Méndez de Vigo, declared "The year 2019 will be declared the Year of the Spanish Language” as part of the Marca España initiative.
Marca España has stated that the Spanish language is “a global agent that produces wealth, identity, culture, and brand which still has great opportunities for expansion and development in the digital era. It is expected that in 30 years there will be over 700 million Spanish speakers.”
There will even be tax incentives (up to 90%) for activities which promote the initiative to help try to drive participation among the private sector. Among these initiatives will be a study grant to generate more university student exchanges, appointing celebrities as “Spanish language ambassadors,” and the designing of a digital platform in Spanish & Portuguese to offer free content in the fields of literature, film, music, art, and science.
This plan has not been accepted across the country, however, as Spain’s all-encompassing attitude with the proposal has caused some hesitation in Latin American countries. De Vigo was specifically warned that the plan would not be welcomed outside Spain by the director of the Real Academia Española, Darío Villanueva, and of the Cervantes Institute, Juan Manuel Bonet, but has decided to go ahead with it anyway.
Even in Spain, political groups, apart from the governing Popular Party, have also criticized the plan specifically Basque and Catalan citizens as they see it as an attack on their own languages. Francisco Javier Pérez, the Venezuelan secretary general of ASALE stated that the desire by Spain to reign control over the common language was “at the very least worrisome.”
Carmen Millán, director of the Caro y Cuervo Institute in Colombia has a bit of a more optimistic look by stating that “...this is not about rivalries, it is about a sense of belonging to a common language.”
While it remains to be seen whether the effort will succeed in a similar fashion as the cultural promotion efforts of the French, it is without a doubt starting a conversation within the Spanish-speaking community about the need to preserve and promote their beloved language.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how Spain is working to make 2019 The Year of the Spanish Language! Do you think the Marca España initiative will be positive for the promotion of the Spanish language? Comment below!
Copa De La Diversion
Earlier this year, Minor League Baseball announced the launch of “Copa de la Diversión,” (Fun Cup) a season-long event created to celebrate the culture with participating teams’ local Hispanic communities. Spanning 160 markets throughout the U.S. and Canada, the program aims to engage the more than 18.2 million U.S. Hispanic/Latino individuals identify themselves as MiLB fans.
Copa De La Diversion
Earlier this year, Minor League Baseball announced the launch of “Copa de la Diversión,” (Fun Cup) a season-long event created to celebrate the culture with participating teams’ local Hispanic communities. Spanning 160 markets throughout the U.S. and Canada, the program aims to engage the more than 18.2 million U.S. Hispanic/Latino individuals who identify themselves as MiLB fans.
Minor League Baseball President & CEO, Pat O'Conner, stated that “One of the pillars of Minor League Baseball is to create an environment where all individuals feel welcome and included in our ballparks [&] It is important to us that our teams are reflective of the communities in which they reside, offering a memorable entertainment experience for all members of those communities."
“One of the pillars of Minor League Baseball is to create an environment where all individuals feel welcome and included in our ballparks [&] It is important to us that our teams are reflective of the communities in which they reside, offering a memorable entertainment experience for all members of those communities."
Image: MiLB.com
With years of research and quantifiable filters helping guide the strategic plan, MiLB targeted the four aforementioned communities as ideal markets to launch the initiative in 2017. Each participating team depicts a unique subset of the U.S. Hispanic/Latino population with revamped jerseys and caps, with the four markets serving as a representative cross-section of the total U.S. Hispanic/Latino populace. For instance, the Las Vegas 51s will become the Las Vegas Reyes de Plata ("Silver Kings") referencing the city’s pioneering history in the metal mining business.
Kurt Hunzeker, Minor League Baseball's Vice President of Marketing Strategy and Research stated that “Minor League Baseball is built on the fun, memory-making experiences created by our teams each and every day.” “When we introduced 'It's Fun to Be a Fan' and 'Es Divertido Ser Un Fan' last season, the overwhelmingly positive response led us to create this season-long event series, further showcasing our teams' commitment to their communities and MiLB's unique brand of fun."
The 160-game event series begins on April 8, in Round Rock, Texas. To build awareness and create excitement for the new national series, a 3-foot tall "Copa de la Diversión" trophy will embark on a tour of the participating cities, as part of a "Gira de la Copa" ("Cup Tour").
Fans can join the Es Divertido Ser Un Fan conversation by using the hashtags #MiLBEsDivertido and #MiLBIsFun!
We hope you've enjoyed learning about the Minor League Baseball's Copa De La Diversion! Looking to dive more into Hispanic / Latino culture? Our fully-immersive group classes and native instructors not only promote linguistic fluency, but will deepen your understanding of the culture as you learn how to communicate effectively! Click below to learn more
Bridging The Spanish Generation Gap
Over the next 50 years, however Spain will have the largest elderly population next to Japan, and authorities are addressing a pressing issue that spans across the world: loneliness among senior citizens.
Bridging The Spanish Generation Gap
It is without questions that the Spanish are amongst the longest living people on the planet. As noted in our previous article, The World's Oldest Man, there are many factors that contribute to this, but it seems to be mostly influenced by diet and cultural standards. Over the next 50 years, Spain will have the largest elderly population next to Japan, according to figures from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Authorities, thankfully, are starting to address a pressing issue that spans across the world: loneliness among senior citizens.
Ourense, a Spanish province with more pensioners than Social Security contributors, is leading an effort where seniors and children are brought together at specially designed daycare centers. A new center has been completed on the outskirts of the city that will welcome 80 senior citizens and 82 preschoolers, who will have two separate areas but a large common room. Elderly residents will be able to see the children at all times and will have a common space to do activities and play games.
“It’s kind of a return to the traditional model in which grandparents and even great-grandparents once lived together with their descendants, leading to mutually enriching relationships,” says Noelia Pérez, of the mayor’s office. “There is no doubt that the elderly will get the most enjoyment out of it, although children will also benefit from the individualized attention,” said Perfecto Rodríguez, manager of the Galician Consortium for Equality and Wellbeing.
The benefits for the elderly include “a sense that they are leaving a legacy behind, making a contribution to the future” by helping with the education of younger generations. “And they improve their social relations, which is vital to longevity, as well as improving their physical condition as a result of the activity they are forced to do.”
As for the children, Sánchez said they will acquire “a much more positive outlook on old age.”
We hope you've enjoyed learning about how the Spanish government is Bridging The Spanish Generation Gap. Do you think this will help solve the problem of loneliness among senior citizens? Let us know below!
The Evolution of Latin Music
Spanish-language music has hit record highs and reached more people than ever before in America over the last year, but it’s not just a momentary phenomenon or passing phase, and it seems that the trend is showing no signs of slowing.
The Evolution of Latin Music
In 2017, Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito” skyrocketed to the top of the charts, and J Balvin quickly followed with the hit song “Mi Gente,” adding to his repertoire of hit Spanish songs throughout his career. Those two hits alone introduced millions of people who may not have normally listened to Latin music to the genre.
Spanish-language music has hit record highs and reached more people than ever before in America over the last year, but it’s not just a momentary phenomenon or passing phase. The Latin genre has been growing steadily in popularity around the world since the original Bossa Nova boom in the 1960s, and it seems that the trend is showing no signs of slowing.
The term "Latin music" originated from the U.S. due to the growing influence of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the American music market by pioneers including Xavier Cugat & Tito Puente.
As the Brazilian Bossa Nova became widespread in Latin America in the 1960s, it led to a rising interest in Latin Music globally. Rock en español became popular with the younger generation of Latinos and gave birth to the famous Mexican-American Latin rock guitarist Carlos Santana began his decades of popularity.
Salsa music became the dominant genre of tropical music in the 1970s. Fania Records was credited for popularizing Salsa music through to the 1980s, as the Latin ballad continued to be the main form of Latin pop music. As the traditional Salsa lost it’s attraction, fans gravitated to the slower rhythms and romantic lyrics which characterized the aptly named: Salsa Romantica era.
Bolero music saw a resurgence of popularity with the younger audience in the 1990s and gave way to artists that are still recognizable today such as Ricky Martin, Shakira, and Enrique Iglesias.
As the 2000's rolled in, Reggaeton became popular in the mainstream market, with Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, and Wisin & Yandel pioneering a new sound that would shape the genre and would eventually be dominated by up-tempo rhythms including Electropop, Urban, and contemporary Bachata music ushering out the era of the Latin Ballad in popular radio play.
As the ASCAP Latin Music Awards wrap another successful year in NYC, the ever expanding - and diversifying - Latin music industry is proving that it has no plans of fading into obscurity anytime soon.
We hope you've enjoyed learning about The Evolution of Latin Music! Check out some of our favorite tunes by following the official JP Linguistics Spanish playlist!
Banning the Bullfight
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child have raised concerns about the impact bullfighting could have on children at events and as pupils in bullfighting schools and has urged Spain to ban children from attending bullfights and enrolling in bullfighting schools.
Banning the Bullfight
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child have raised concerns about the impact bullfighting could have on children at events as well as pupils in bullfighting schools and has urged Spain to ban children from attending bullfights and enrolling in bullfighting schools. The committee itself observed that “In order to prevent the harmful effects of bullfighting on children, the committee recommends that the state party prohibit the participation of children under 18 years of age as bullfighters and as spectators in bullfighting events.”
According to "Frommer's Travel Guide," bullfighting in Spain traces its origins to 711 A.D., with the first official bullfight (corrida de toros) being held in honor of the coronation of King Alfonso VIII. Once part of the Roman Empire, Spain owes its bullfighting tradition in part to gladiator games. Although, bullfighting was done originally on horseback among the upper classes, King Felipe V ended the trend stating that he believed it was in poor taste for nobles to practice such a bloody sport.
Currently, the oldest bullring in Spain is located in the southern town of Ronda, but cities like Madrid, Seville and Pamplona also have a rich bullfighting legacy and some of the largest rings in the world.
The Spanish delegation told the committee it would consider the recommendations. The regional government of Catalonia once banned bullfighting, but the ban was overturned in 2016 by Spain’s constitutional court, stating that the practice was “one more expression of a cultural nature that forms part of the common cultural heritage.”
We hope you've enjoyed learning about possible Spanish Banning of the Bullfight! What are your thoughts on this cultural institution being banned? Leave a comment below!
Perserving Ladino
More than 500 years after expelling Jews from the country, Spain is officially recognizing Ladino as a Spanish language in the hope of saving the it from extinction.
Reviving Ladino
More than 500 years after expelling Jews from the country, Spain is officially recognizing Ladino as a Spanish language in the hope of saving it from extinction.
Ladino, also known as Judeo-Spanish, was preserved by Spanish Jews following their expulsion from Spain in 1492. Shmuel Rafael, director of Bar-Ilan University’s Salti Center for Ladino Studies stated that “It was the main tool for creating, disseminating and preserving the spoken and written culture of the Spanish Jews." Also that Spain’s decision has been reached from the knowledge that Ladino is a Spanish language in the same way as are Portuguese, Catalan, Basque and the Spanish dialects are Spanish.
At a conference last week at the Royal Spanish Academy in Madrid, officials announced the establishment of a new Ladino academy to be located in Israel that would put together a historical dictionary of Ladino. With Ladino becoming an official language, Spain will be able to add Ladino words and phrases to its popular online historical dictionary, for the benefit of the world’s 500 million Spanish speakers.
In Israel, Ladino can be studied at Bar-Ilan University, Ben-Gurion University and Hebrew University. The new academy will aim to act as “a crossroads for a vast amount of scholarships,” Rafael stated. “This is a very important moment, a historic moment,” Professor Tamar Alexander, chairwoman of the Ladino authority and a scholar of Spanish-Jewish culture, told the Madrid conference. The new academy is considering to operate out of the Yitzhak Navon heritage center.
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The World’s Oldest Man
Amazingly, Olivera started to read again at 98 after an operation to cure his cataracts and took daily walks alone in his village until he was 107...
The World’s Oldest Man
The Spanish village of Bienvenida in Badajoz, Spain has declared a day of mourning following the death of Francisco Nunez Olivera who was not just a retired farmer, but the world’s oldest man.
“It’s a very cold day and most of all a very sad day,” village mayor Antonio Carmona stated of Francisco Nunez Olivera who died late last month at the astounding age of 113. He is survived by four children, nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Photo: Gerontology.Wikia.com
Born on December 13, 1904, Olivera’s long life has been credited mainly to the vegetable based diet that was sourced from his own land accompanied by a daily glass of red wine. In fact, Spain currently has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, also attributed to the country’s Mediterranean diet. Throughout his life, he fought in the Rif War in the first half of the 1920s between Spain and the Berber tribes of the Rif mountains in Morocco and survived General Francisco Franco’s dictatorship (1936 - 1975) and was one of 32 people over the age of 90 among the nearly 2,200 inhabitants of the village, according to the newspaper, El Mundo.
Photo: Lacronicabadajoz.com
Amazingly, Olivera started to read again at 98 after an operation to cure his cataracts and took daily walks alone in his village until he was 107.
Proving Nunez Olivera’s exact age has been complicated by the fact that most of Bienvenida’s archives were destroyed during Spain’s civil war that took place from 1936 until 1939.
As a testament to the concept that age is only a number, In an April 2015 interview with Spanish daily El Mundo, Francisco said in a 2015 interview with El Mundo that he would like to live a couple more years despite the fact all his friends were dead and insisted: 'I know I'm old but I don't feel old.'
We hope you've enjoyed learning about The World’s Oldest Man! Ever dreamt of experiencing everything that Nunez Olivera has in the beautiful country of Spain? Our culturally immersive classes and native instructors are here to help!
Celebrating Saint Anthony in Spain
Every January, citizens of Spain hold celebrations to Celebrate Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals on the holiday aptly named Saint Anthony's Day with two starkly different celebrations.
Celebrating Saint Anthony in Spain
Every January, the Spanish hold celebrations to Celebrate Saint Anthony, the patron saint of animals on the holiday aptly named Saint Anthony's Day with two starkly different celebrations. On the day of the celebration, pet-owners lined up around the block of the Church of San Anton in central Madrid to wait for a priest who stood at the entrance of the building to sprinkle holy water on Dogs, cats, rabbits and even iguanas, many of which were dressed in colorful sweaters to keep warm.
After having their pets blessed, citizens can be seen lined up outside church windows to buy bread rolls, one of which is traditionally kept for a year alongside a coin to ensure work and health and to guarantee the blessing of the saint.
Photo: REUTERS
The more controversial event takes place on the eve of St. Anthony's day in the village of San Bartolome de Pinares and is dubbed "Las Luminarias Festival.” It’s traditions combine the pre-Christian rituals of local peasants with Catholic beliefs that were brought into the culture by missionaries.
Photo: AP
Photo: Czuko Williams / Demotix
Approximately 600 people gather on the outskirts of the city to conduct a fire ceremony for the purification of their horses, and it’s believed that those able to finish their ride through the flames will be protected from misfortunes for the remainder of the year. The ceremony has faced much backlash over concerns of animal mistreatment over the years, however the town’s mayor, Maria Jesus Martin Gomez disagrees with critics by stating: “The only thing I have to say is that the animals don’t suffer anything at all.”
We hope you've enjoyed learning about the celebrations surrounding Saint Anthony's Day in Spain. What do you think about the dichotomy between the Las Luminarias Festival and the blessing of the pets? Let us know in the comment section below!
Spain's Travel Boom
The UN World Tourism Organization has recently found that Spain is currently on track to replace the United States as the world’s 2nd most popular tourism destination!
Spain's Travel Boom
The UN World Tourism Organization has recently found that Spain is currently on track to replace the United States as the world’s 2nd most popular tourism destination.
While France remains the most popular, it is expected that Spain will follow closely behind with 82 million visitors over the past year despite a terror attack in August and the battle for independence by the citizens of Catalonia.
The number of global tourists leapt 7% in 2016, the biggest increase in seven years and Europe benefitted the most with much thanks to the Mediterranean’s sea and sun. While the political crisis sparked a drop in visitor numbers to the northeastern region, it does not hinder overall tourist visitation in Spain in 2017.
Overall, the number of international tourists rose by 7 percent during the past year to an astounding 1.3 billion and is expected to continue growing over this year. One of these said tourists includes our friend, a fashion and travel blogger, Malikah Kelly (www.malikahkelly.com). She’s been jet setting around the globe and created a super helpful article we wanted to share for readers preparing for their next trip to Spain titled, ‘5 Tips To Save For Your Mallorca, Spain Experience!’
Along with Malikah and billions of other travelers, UNWTO chief, Zurab Pololikashvili, stated: "International travel continues to grow strongly, consolidating the tourism sector as a key driver in economic development” and that "As the third export sector in the world, tourism is essential for job creation and the prosperity of communities around the world."
Planning on joining in on Spain's travel boom over this coming year? Our team of native instructors and culturally infused classes will not only ensure that you advance your fluency, but that you will be able to understand and enjoy all that Spain has to offer!