Spanish language Q&A Forum

I just completed a translation exercise which included the following sentence:

"... we see the fireworks and we receive gifts from Father Christmas."

I translated the sentence as follows: "... vemos los fuegos artificiales y recibimos regalos desde Papá Noel". Kwiziq indicated that the correct translation should have been "... vemos los fuegos artificiales y recibimos los regalos de Papá noel."

I have two question about this: 

1) Why was it necessary to insert "los" in front of "regalos"? I do not understand fully the rule of when the definite articles (singular or plural) must be used. As you can see, I inserted it when  "the" was included before "fireworks" in the English translation, but omitted "los" when "the" was not included before "gifts" in the English translation. Again, what's the rule on this? When I practice the writing exercises seems use of articles is hit and miss.

2) I am confused about why "de" was used as translation of "from" instead of "desde". Seems "regalos de Papá Noel" would translate in English to Santa Claus's gifts. Please explain.

Thank you!

Pati Ecuamiga.

For the final section (i.e.,  "to enjoy the evening") the hint was "disfrutar (de)". I do not understand the significance of "de" as a hint for that segment of the sentence. Why was "(de)" part of the hint?  I was completely thrown off by that "hint".

Pati Ecuamiga

Por qué no   Alicia and Amaya van a caminar por la ciudad?

I use this site everyday it is helping me with my Spanish but there is a problem. I would very much like to kwiz this and other topics again, that I have difficulty with, but I am unable to. The glitch in this link/program will not let me reKwiz no matter how many times I try. To reKwiz would help me to learn but the program is broken. 

In the test question, "Rafael y Julio son unos chicos muy . . . ," The English translation omits the "some" (unos). I wonder why that was done. Was it to show that "unos" is always added in the given Spanish usage? I would be interested in any corresponding lesson.

Va a estudiar medicina por seguir la tradición familiar.

Le dieron el trabajo por ser el primo del director.

I think these sentences would be better translated as:

She is going to study medicine because it's the family tradition.

He was given the job for being the manager's cousin.

My confusion is that when I read 'le habían gustado' I think this was in the past, whereas she still very much likes dolphins and hence is going to have her dream fulfilled tomorrow'. Thanks

is “Fueron vacaciones fantásticas”  ok or is it awkward in spanish? Muchas gracias! Shirley.