Celebrate New Year’s with Corre, Año Viejo, Corre: A Fun Spanish Story for Students and Language Teachers

Celebrate New Year’s with Corre, Año Viejo, Corre: A Fun Spanish Story for Students and Language Teachers

by | Nov 7, 2024 | Año Nuevo, Año Viejo, cultural activities, culture, New Year's Eve

This is one of my favorite stories, not because I wrote it, but because it brings back so many fond memories of growing up in a neighborhood in the south of Cali, Colombia. As I wrote Corre, Año Viejo, Corre, I could clearly picture all the children in my neighborhood gathering around the Año Viejo. I wanted to capture that rich cultural tradition in a short story, but with a touch of humor to make it fun for elementary students and something teachers can easily share in their world language classrooms.

The Año Viejo is a New Year’s Eve tradition celebrated in Colombia and other Latin American countries. This custom involves burning a life-sized doll, traditionally filled with fireworks, gunpowder, or straw. The Año Viejo symbolizes the end of a cycle, leaving behind the negative and setting new goals, almost like pressing a reset button. It can also be a way to express political opinions, depending on who the doll represents. There are also smaller versions of the “Año Viejo.” Burning the doll is a family tradition and a community event shared among neighbors, streets, or neighborhoods. Regardless of the doll’s size, this celebration is always accompanied by the song ¡El Año Nuevo!, blending joy with nostalgia. But most importantly, it symbolizes a new beginning.

 

The Story in the Book

As the year comes to a close, a grandmother decides to make an Año Viejo doll to say goodbye to the old year. She carefully crafts each detail, but suddenly, the doll comes to life and starts running! What will happen to Año Viejo? Can he escape?

Corre, Año Viejo, Corre isn’t just a playful story—it’s also a great way to teach kids about New Year’s celebrations in Latin America. Students will learn about the tradition of creating an Año Viejo figure, which symbolizes letting go of the past year. It’s a fun way to teach cultural traditions in Spanish class!

Where to Find Corre, Año Viejo, Corre

You can find Corre, Año Viejo, Corre on Amazon, CPLI Books, or in my online store as part of a special bundle. This bundle includes the story and an Año Viejo character, giving you everything you need to bring this engaging cultural tradition into your world language classroom. It combines a captivating story with hands-on activities and language practice, making it the perfect addition to your teaching resources.

What’s Included in the Corre, Año Viejo, Corre Bundle:

  • Reading Comprehension Activities: Check for understanding with fun questions and activities that help build reading skills.
  • Crafts and Extension Activities: Students can create their own Año Viejo puppets, write goodbye notes to the past year, and even design their own versions of the character.
  • Language Learning: Reinforce vocabulary with simple Spanish phrases related to New Year’s celebrations and cultural traditions.

This bundle is an excellent tool for teachers who want to make learning Spanish fun and meaningful, while also introducing important cultural lessons. Perfect for elementary school world language teachers looking for engaging, culturally rich content!