Spanish On the Go! - Improve your listening comprehension skills with our authentic podcasts

The bright red flower known as Poinsettia is a common sight during the Christmas holidays.

However, not many people know that this flower comes from Mexico and that it held an important place in Aztec society. With the arrival of the Spanish missioners and the merging of native and catholic traditions, the Poinsettia quickly became a staple of Christmas decorations.

Click play to hear the fascinating story of the Poinsettia or flor de Nochebuena (Christmas Eve flower):

José Feliciano is an internationally acclaimed musician, singer and composer from Puerto Rico.

Although he's had numerous hits throughout his prosperous career, perhaps he's best known for his uber-popular holiday song "Feliz Navidad". This simple, but catchy tune combines English and Spanish to prove that the holiday spirit doesn't know about language barriers.

Click play to learn all about José Feliciano and his signature song!

Eydie Gormé is an American singer of Sephardic origins who crossed the language borders performing both in English and Spanish.

Although she had a prolific career performing solo or with with her husband, singer Steve Lawrence, she became better known across the Spanish-speaking world when she collaborated with the Trio Los Panchos in the 1960's.

Click play & learn all about this remarkable singer!

Every November in the Estado Zulia, Venezuela, people celebrate la Feria de la Chinita.

This popular religious celebration dates back to 1709 when an old lady witnessed a miracle involving la Virgen de Chiquinquirá.

This festivity lasts several weeks during which people attend mass and religious processions, and enjoy traditional music, dancing and food.

Click play to learn about this interesting celebration!

Peruvian gastronomy has positioned itself as one of the best in the world. This cuisine stands out thanks to a unique fusion of exceptional local produce, ancestral pre-Hispanic culinary traditions, and ingredients and techniques brought over by Spanish, African, Chinese, Japanese, and Italian settlers over the years. With exquisite dishes and drinks like ceviche, Pisco Sour, causa limeña, ají de gallina, chicha morada, or picarones, la cocina peruana has been recognized as a Cultural Heritage to Humanity!

Click play to hear how this fusion of cultures shaped Peru's identity as a nation as well as its gastronomy!

Cumbia is one of the most wide-spread musical genres across Latin America. It's sound, themes and even signature instruments can vary greatly from country to country. In Argentina, the Colombian cumbia merged with local rhythms like tango and chamamé -as well as the musical influences of Bolivian and Peruvian immigrants- to create several distinct varieties of unique Argentine cumbia. Click play to learn more about how la cumbia colombiana transformed into cumbia argentina to reflect the social and political realities of Argentinean society.

La Catrina is one of the most recognized symbols of el Día de Muertos, but her origins were not related to this popular celebration.

This iconic figure first appeared in a satirical zinc etching created by Mexican cartoon illustrator José Guadalupe Posada that took aim at people of middle and upper class who rejected their native heritage in favor of assimilating into European culture.

Years later, renowned Mexican muralist Diego Rivera completed her current appearance when he included her in one of his murals elegantly dressed, which also earned her the name of "La Catrina".

Click play to hear the fascinating history of this iconic character!