Anaya's Essay 'A Celebration Of Grandfathers'

In the essay “A Celebration of Grandfathers” by Rudolfo A. Anaya, the text uses phrases and words in Spanish to convey the deep meanings of the essay: the respect and warmth the author felt toward his grandfather, and the importance of honoring the older generation. For instance, Anaya 's usage of the first phrase, “‘Buenos días le de Dios, abuelo.’ God give you a good day, grandfather,” in Spanish, not only emphasizes the importance of the phrase to him, but also relays that he carries deep respect for his grandfather (Anaya 240). This expression in Spanish is the common greeting taught to young children to greet elders or other grown adults. Furthermore, the fact that the phrase is first communicated to the reader in Spanish reveals how the phrase is important to what he is attempting to convey.

‘Buenos días le de Dios, abuelo,’ I would say….’Buenos días te de Dios, mi hijo,’ he would answer and smile '" (Anaya 243). This exchange of the phrase represents the close relationship between Anaya and his grandfather, and also the deep connection they share with one another. When the grandfather reciprocates the phrase back to Anaya, a sense of respect between the two is also uncovered, with the greeting being used to back the idea that Anaya shares respect and awe toward his grandfather. Finally, the last usage of the phrase comes at the end of Anaya’s essay. “It would help us all to greet the old ones we know with this kind and respectful greeting: ‘Buenos días le de Dios,’' says Anaya at the end of his essay (Anaya 244). With this final usage of the Spanish phrase, Anaya effectively ties the beginning of the passage, along with the reverence and admiration he feels for his grandfather, to the underlying message of the story: treat the elderly and those of past generations with kindness and