Spanish Proverb of the Day: 'De tal palo, tal astilla' – 'From such a stick, such a splinter' - What this Spanish saying reveals about family

Spanish Proverb of the Day: There are times when members of a family surprise you with their likeness. This may happen in the situation where a child inherits certain characteristics of his or her parents. These characteristics include smile, personality, behavior, among others. There is an ancient Spanish proverb that says, "De tal palo, tal astilla." It means, "From such a stick, such a splinter." From this proverb, one can see that just like the way a splinter comes from a wooden stick, children can at times inherit the personality of their parents. The proverb goes beyond physical resemblance to behavioral traits, among others.

SPANISH PROVERB OF THE DAY

"De tal palo, tal astilla"

WHAT THIS SPANISH PROVERB MEANS

The expression "De tal palo, tal astilla" is normally used when making comparisons between persons and their parents or persons that they look up to. This expression may be used when talking about how people look like, but can also be used to refer to the characters of these persons. For example, in case if one of the parents loves music and the child loves to play the music instrument, then this expression can be used when referring to them. The person can also use this expression when the child copies the behavior of his or her parents. This expression does not mean that children resemble their parents.

WHY THIS SPANISH PROVERB STILL MATTERS

It is a relevant saying due to the fact that the people we surround ourselves with affect how we behave. People are trained to behave like the adults whom they see, not like those whom they hear. Meanwhile, the current society proves that the fact of having some impact on a person does not necessarily mean being his/her fate. One can receive something from someone, be brought up with certain habits, and decide not to follow the same path. In this situation, the phrase, "De tal palo, tal astilla," gains additional meaning. It is not just a saying about the similarity between family members; it gives people food for thought about what has been inherited from family and what should stay with a person.