Vela, a word often used for “candle,” or “sail,” can also mean “wakefulness,” as in “vigilance.” It’s related to the verb velar, “to stand watch.” The name of the port city of La Vela de Coro refers not to the “sails” of merchant ships (as many assume) but rather to this town’s role as a “lookout” point for marauding pirates. One-eyed peg-legs are now less common, but the carnivalesque annual festival of Los Locos continues on.

Most English speakers have at some time in their lives heard Donovan sing “The Hurdy Gurdy Man,” but how many knew what such a man did? The woman in this video talks about a musical family that used to play the sinfonía, and indeed this is the Spanish name for the hand-crank organ known as a “hurdy gurdy.”

It’s quite possible that El Día de Los Locos, as celebrated in La Vela de Coro, has its roots as far back as the Roman Empire, which celebrated Saturnalia at the same time of year. Both festivals, historically, involve turning the social order on its head, with slaves dressing like their masters.

La Vela is a small town in the state of Falcón, on the northwest coast of Venezuela, where every December 28th Los Locos [“The Crazy Ones”] arrive wearing colorful and elaborated costumes. The whole town becomes a party, with businesses closing and people dancing in the streets. It’s a tradition that could be in any magical realism novel and that desperately struggles to not fall into oblivion.

The Director of the Cervantes Institute in London talks about its role in promoting not only the renowned Spanish author's work but also the Spanish language and culture throughout the world.

Meet Julio Sarramián, a fine artist from Madrid, who gives us a tour of his studio and tells us a bit about his work.

After providing us with clues, Ester from El Aula Azul dares us to guess which historical figure she's describing. Are you up to the challenge?

Which historical figure is Idoia from El Aula Azul describing? Listen to her clues, and dare to guess!

Ester, a teacher at El Aula Azul, believes that reading is one of the most important tools for acquiring vocabulary and understanding language structures. In this video, she recommends to us some of her favorite books for lower-level Spanish students.

Reading authentic Spanish literature is one of the most interesting ways for more advanced Spanish students to increase their vocabulary and knowledge of linguistic structures. Ester from El Aula Azul recommends three books that her upper level students have enjoyed.

Cleer interviews the members of the acclaimed Colombian band, Doctor Krápula, known for both their music and social activism.

Rabbi Shloime offers us some insight into the origins and significance of the Hanukkah tradition.

Many Latin American countries celebrate the Novena of Aguinaldos, a nine-day, Catholic-based holiday that includes music, food and prayer. Grace Pinzon, a Colombian woman living in Florida, shares with us how the novena is celebrated there.

Guided by Fermin, we immerse ourselves in San Sebastian's biggest and most lively celebration: the Tamborrada [Drum Parade], learning about its origins and how this twenty-four-hour party is celebrated.

Cristina talks to us about the "Diablada Pillareña" [Pillaro Dance of the Devils], a popular annual celebration in Pillaro, Ecuador that has been deemed Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.