In South America, they love and know how to have fun. Holidays in Argentina - whether religious, state or local events - are always held on a grand scale. Most often they last for several days, and they involve the entire population.
Interestingly, even in cities as large as Buenos Aires , holidays are almost without the presence of police: no region is taken under the cordon of law enforcers, people can walk anywhere, and no riots occur. During the holidays in the capital, usually block and make a pedestrian only Avenida de Mayo, and sometimes other central streets (for example, Avenida Corrientes and Avenue on July 9 ).
It celebrates national dates, various Catholic holidays (Argentines, most of whom are Catholics, are very religious), as well as a wide variety of original holidays. For example, in Buenos Aires there is a competition of beauty and old cars, when beauties - representatives of different nationalities living in Argentina, pass through the city in retro cars, and viewers admire them from the sidewalks.
National holidays
The national holidays of Argentina are both religious and secular holidays:
- January 1 - New Year; this holiday is considered to be "home", like Christmas, and it is quiet enough, although, of course, the cities are beautifully decorated and there are different festive concerts, competitions and other events;
- January 6 - Reyes Magos (Day of Magic Kings) - a feast in honor of the wise men who came to worship the baby Jesus;
- March 24 is the Day of Remembrance of the victims of the "dirty war", unleashed by the military junta, who ruled the country from 1976 to 1983;
- Easter, like all the major religious holidays, is very large.
- April 2 - Day of veterans and those who died in the war for the Malvinas Islands. Also, the date is called the Day of the Malvinas Islands;
- May 1 - Labor Day;
- May 25 is the Day of the Nation. Also, the holiday is called "The Day of the May Revolution" in honor of the revolution in May 1810. It is also called "The Day of the First Government";
- June 20 - National Flag of Argentina. It is a day of remembrance of a man who designed the design of the Argentinean flag - Manuel Belgran;
- July 9 - Independence Day;
- August 17 is the day of remembrance of Jose de San Martin, the national hero of Argentina, one of the leaders of the struggle for independence;
- September 11 - Teacher's Day. This day is not a day off, but is widely celebrated all over the country;
- the second Monday in October is Columbus Day (the Day of the Americas). This day marks the anniversary of the landing of Columbus on the American coast. Also, the holiday is called the Day of respect for cultural diversity;
- December 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary;
- December 25 - Christmas.
| | | |
Carnivals and festivals
The most popular among this kind of celebrations in the country are:
- Carnival in Gualeguaichu . In Argentina, as in Brazil, is its carnival. He is somewhat less known than the famous holiday in Rio, but in color is not inferior to his brother. In addition, the Argentine carnival is the record holder for duration: it takes place on Saturdays in the first two months of the year.
- The festival of vintage. In the first week of autumn (from the last Sunday in February to the first Saturday in March), the traditional Fiesta Nacional de la Vendimia is held in the province of Mendoza. The festival begins with the Blessing of Fruits ceremony, and ends with a grandiose theatrical performance. During the celebration, there are tastings, parades, fairs and the choice of the Queen of Beauty among the representatives of the departments of the Mendoza region.
- The immigrant festival starts in early September (the first Thursday of the month). It lasts 11 days and attracts annually more than 150 thousand people. In the framework of the holiday there are parades in national costumes, concerts, as well as tasting dishes of national cuisines of those countries, immigrants from whom live in Argentina. 10 hectares of the Park of Nations are transformed into a giant campsite, where among the tents are located the peculiar "embassies" of different countries, including Guarani Indians, indigenous inhabitants of Argentina. The festival ends with the election of the Queen and two "princesses" of beauty, "Miss National Costume" and "Miss Friendship".
- The gaucho show can hardly be called a holiday in the usual sense of the word. However, the traditional competition of cowboys, during which they must show their strength and dexterity, ripping a ring, fixed on a special lath during the race, for the spectators of this action become a real holiday. Show Gaucho Feria de Matederos is the most famous street show in Argentina. And you can see it every Saturday, except for the period from December 25 to January 3 in the cattle market in Buenos Aires. The action starts at 15-30.
| | |
| | |
Festivals of Arts
Since 1994, in October, Argentina hosts an international festival of guitar music. First it was held as a competition of Argentine guitarists, a couple of years later it was attended by representatives of all Latin American countries, and a few years later it received the status of an international one. Over the years of the festival, more than 200 thousand performers took part in it. Today it is considered the most prestigious of all similar contests in the world.
| | |
Since 1999, the Argentine capital hosts another international festival - the Congress of Tango Performers. It takes place in late February or early March. At this time there are both professional dancers competitions and mass dances in the city squares. In addition, these days there are film screenings, exhibitions, conferences, master classes, concerts dedicated to tango. Every year the festival is visited by 400 to 500 thousand people.
Sporting Holidays
A variety of sports events are held in Argentina, the most interesting of which can rightly be called the Dakar Rally, which Argentina has hosted since 2009. It starts in Buenos Aires, and finishes in Rosario , Argentina's third-largest and largest city. Before the start of the rally, various events take place, those who wish can admire the participating cars, take pictures with them and buy souvenirs.